Newsletter | Term 1 | Week 9 2025 - 28 March 2025
From the Head of Junior School

From the Head of Junior School

It is not every day that the Queen comes to visit, yet today that is what has occurred! In this week’s newsletter, you will read about the visit from the Queen of Tonga and our visitors from Queen Salote College. It was certainly a highlight and a learning experience for our younger students, who discovered that not all queens dress like characters from a Disney production! It was indeed an honour, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Queen Salote College. 

At this week’s assembly we hosted our annual House sing off competition. Prescott participated for the first time and were the winning team! Thanks to our Year 12 Music Captains for being our judges.  

Year 2 Celebration of Learning 

Thank you to the parents, carers, and grandparents who were able to attend our Year 2 Celebration of Learning this week. The girls were so excited about their families coming to visit. Next week, we will host our Kindergarten Celebrations of Learning. 

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Parent Workshop 

It was wonderful to see many of the parents of our youngest learners attend our parent workshop ‘Switched on for Learning’. The room was full! Thank you for taking up the opportunity to work with and learn from two experienced professionals from our Counselling team. We are very proud of our home-school partnership and look forward to other opportunities throughout the year. 

Year 6 Orientation Dates for Senior School 

Earlier this week, an MLC School app notification was sent to Year 6 families with important information about Orientation Dates for Year 7 2026. 

You can access the notice within Omnia under the ‘News’ section on your Dashboard. You can also access the ‘Welcome to Year 7 and the Senior School in 2026’ page in Omnia by clicking here.

A special ‘padlet’ which has been set up for Year 6 moving into Year 7 2026 can be viewed by clicking here.

The ‘padlet’ will be updated with information as we move through the year, so we suggest you bookmark this page for future reference.  

Year 6 2025 moving to Year 7 2026 Orientation – Important Dates 

  • Tuesday 1 July 2025 – Year 8 to Year 11 2027 Scholarships Registrations open 
  • Wednesday 6 August 2025 – Year 6 Excitement Day 
  • Wednesday 6 August 2025 – Parent Information Session and Catch Up 
  • Wednesday 1 October 2025 – Year 8 to Year 11 2027 Scholarship Registrations close 
  • Saturday 18 October 2025 – Year 8 to Year 11 2027 Scholarship Examination 
  • Tuesday 28 October 2025 – Parent Information Evening 
  • Saturday 1 November 2025 – Make up day for Year 7 Allwell Testing (if missed in school time) 
  • Friday 21 November 2025 – Orientation Day 
  • Friday 21 November 2025 – Co-curricular Expo 
  • Tuesday 27 January 2026 – Commencement Day for ALL of Year 7 2026 and new students 
  • Wednesday 28 January 2026 – Classes commence for Term 1 2026 

International Night 

Preparations are well underway for International Night. It is only one week away. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to purchase tickets. The event includes good food and performances from our students. If there are any proceeds, they will contribute to our hardworking Junior School P&F. This is a highlight of the School calendar when we come together to celebrate our cultural diversity. 

You can purchase tickets through Omnia.

– Daniel Sandral
Head of Junior School

The Value of Courage

The Value of Courage

In our journey through life, we often encounter moments that test our resolve and push us beyond our comfort zones. One of the most important qualities that can help us navigate these challenges is courage. But what exactly is courage, and why is it so valuable?

Courage is the ability to face fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. It is not the absence of fear, but rather the strength to move forward despite it. Courage comes in many forms, from standing up for what is right, to trying something new, to admitting when we are wrong.

In our school community, we see acts of courage every day. Students show courage when they raise their hands to ask questions, even when they are unsure of the answer. They demonstrate bravery when they stand up against the wrong thing or support a friend in need. Teachers exhibit courage by embracing new teaching methods and continuously striving to improve their classrooms.

Why is courage so important?

  1. Personal Growth: Courage allows us to grow and learn. When we take risks and face our fears, we open ourselves up to new experiences and opportunities. This growth helps us become more resilient and adaptable individuals.
  2. Building Confidence: Each act of courage builds our confidence. When we succeed in overcoming a challenge, we gain a sense of accomplishment and self-belief that encourages us to tackle future obstacles.
  3. Inspiring Others: Courage is contagious. When we see someone else being brave, it inspires us to be brave too. By acting courageously, we can motivate others to do the same, creating a supportive and empowering community.
  4. Making a Difference: Courage is often the catalyst for change. Whether it’s standing up for a cause, speaking out against injustice, or simply being true to ourselves, courageous actions can have a profound impact on the world around us.

As we continue through this school year, let’s remember the value of courage. Let’s encourage our daughters to be brave, to take risks, and to support one another in their courageous endeavours. Together, we can create a school environment where everyone feels empowered to face their fears and achieve their full potential.

– Joanne Sharpe
Head of Junior School – Wellbeing

Discovering the Heroes

Discovering the Heroes

As a Round Square (RS) School, MLC School was fortunate to host a Round Square Heroes of Discovery workshop last Thursday 20 March.

Teachers from 9 schools, from Tasmania to Melbourne to Tweed Heads and the Sydney region came together to hear about and experience time getting to know the 12 Heroes of Discovery. This workshop was another step in our journey of including the discoveries, or character attributes, within the Junior School, which began two years ago with a visit to Oxford.

The participants got to play with the RS Heroes of Discovery and share them with each other. It was a day of cutting, pasting and making whilst chatting and getting to know people from other Round Square schools.

A few schools, including us, who have been embedding these heroes in their school presented what they have been doing. We have developed a leadership program, starting in Year 4 and continuing in Year 5, which supports our Year 5 leaders to develop skills necessary for their leadership – self awareness, courage, responsibility, communication, teamwork and problem solving. We are starting to look at how else learning about the Discoveries can support our girls’ development and learning.

It was a fantastic day and I know the MLC School staff who attended benefited and more deeply understand what the Round Square international community of schools is all about.

Kurt Hahn, the founder of Round Square said:

“There is more in us than we know.

If we can be made to see it perhaps for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less.”

So as the MLC School girl dares to be more, we hope she will see in herself more than she knows and strive to achieve it.

– Joanne Sharpe
Head of Junior School – Wellbeing

Click on gallery to view full images

Year 4 visits the arcade

Year 4 visits the arcade

We are pleased to share the enriching experience our Year 4 students had during their recent excursion to Koko Arcade in Burwood. This trip served as an excellent provocation for their final task in understanding forces in action.
 
During the visit, the students explored various arcade games and observed the different forces at play. They gained insights into contact forces, such as friction and tension, as well as non-contact forces like gravity and magnetism. This hands-on experience allowed them to see these concepts in action and understand their real-world applications.
 
The highlight of the excursion was the interactive sessions where students engaged with the games and analysed the mechanics behind them. They observed how different forces influenced the movement and operation of the games, sparking curiosity and excitement about the science involved.
 
As a follow-up to this excursion, the students will be re-creating their own arcade games within a shoe box. This project will require them to apply their knowledge of contact and non-contact forces, encouraging creativity and critical thinking. We eagerly anticipate the innovative designs and ideas they will present.
 
Eddie Park, Maria-Louise Chami, Selina Clark
Year 4 teachers
Junior School Co-curricular Concert

Junior School Co-curricular Concert

Last Friday afternoon, our wonderful Junior School Co-curricular music ensembles and Year 5 and Year 6 Band had the opportunity to showcase their hard work and efforts over the last term. From our small quartets through to Junior Jazz Ensemble and everyone in between, our parents and staff were treated to an exciting line up of performances. A big thank you goes out to all music staff and tutors for their commitment to the wonderful music programs and ensembles, and to Daniel Sandral, Head of Junior School for his support.

Sophie Grattan-Smith
Junior School Music Co-ordinator

Click on gallery to view full images

Easter Egg Drive

Easter Egg Drive

This year in the spirit of Easter and giving to those in need, MLC Junior School are having an Easter Egg Drive – how EGGsciting!

We are asking students from Year 3 to Year 6 to bring in an Easter Egg. These eggs will be donated to Wayside Chapel. A fantastic charity that gives to those who are in need. We hope our Easter Egg donation will bring joy to those at Easter time.

Our school service captains and monitors will come around to gather the donations and there will be a basket left in Year 5 central. Eggs will be collected from Monday 31 March to Wednesday 9 April 2025.

– Anaya Sharma (Year 5)
Prescott Service Captain

Junior School Leawarra House Fundraiser – Crazy Hair Day

Junior School Leawarra House Fundraiser – Crazy Hair Day

Date: Friday 11 April 2025 (last day of term)
What: Crazy Hair Day for the Leukaemia Foundation
Cost: Gold coin donation (plus optional $5 to purchase hair accessory)
Who: Pre-K to Year 5

On the last day of Term 1 (Friday 11 April 2025) Leawarra will be holding a crazy hair day to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation

Students in Pre-Kindergarten to Year 5 are encouraged to come to school with their craziest hair styles to raise money and awareness for this worthy cause. 

The Leawarra Captains will also be selling House coloured hair accessories at recess and lunchtime on the Red Carpet for $5

Please no coloured hair dye, hair sprays, glitter or hair chalk.

Autumn Vacation Care Program

Autumn Vacation Care Program

Vacation Care Bookings are now online!

School holidays, in a safe, secure and caring environment from 8am–6pm.

We have a tailored program that is designed by children and educators where each day is filled with exciting activities. We provide a healthy afternoon tea at 3pm and children enjoy their packed morning tea and lunch during the day.  

For more information, please visit our website or to make an enquiry call 1800 864 846 or fill out an enquiry form.

View the Uniting MLC School OSHC Autumn vacation care program here.

– Sabreen Banu
Coordinator, Uniting MLC School Outside School Hours Care

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2025

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2025

Premier’s Reading Challenge: February 24 – August 22

Congratulations

Congratulations to these readers who have completed the challenge:

Year 2

  • Jordan Carattini
  • Alexis Choo
  • Matilda Elsegood
  • Katherine Huynh
  • Nidhirupa Jaikanth
  • Verthandi Liu
  • Elyse Ma
  • Kylie Pita Culqui
  • Cherry Ren
  • Esther Sim
  • Mavis Wang
  • Leah Gao
  • Yinuo Jin
  • Kaira Lal
  • Holly Martin
  • Selena Nguyen
  • Emily Obaid
  • Julia Singh
  • Serene Wong
  • Olivia Yang
  • Bella Zhu 
  • Charlotte Ho
  • Sofia Nguyen

Year 3

  • Aisha Ashour
  • Selina Doan
  • Annabelle Ling
  • Gloria Zhang
  • Amelia Libdy
  • Vy Minh Nguyen
  • Ellie Park
  • Ellie Kang
  • Mialina Angell
  • Cecilia Chen
  • Elizabeth Feng
  • Ruby You

Year 4

  • Sonia Chung
  • Jasmin Ganda
  • Hillary Gu
  • Leah Le
  • Sammi Liang
  • Camila Morcos
  • Tara Peries
  • Ayla Sumantri
  • Lynn Suwanjarat
  • Alyssa Trinh
  • Evelyn Tsang
  • Amy Zong
  • Sofie Haremi
  • Yisa Liang
  • Aida Sidhom
  • Alicia Wen
  • Avery Lan
  • Aimee Li
  • Delaney Wiedner

Year 5

  • Hannah Adessky
  • Nina Bai
  • Miya Cai
  • Laura Chang
  • Erin Chen
  • Sum Cheng
  • Ellyson Chung-Tan
  • Mila Coote
  • Caitlin Eadie
  • Lucie Elias
  • Florence Everitt
  • Olivia Gu
  • Miranda Ho
  • Delilah Hodgson-Fopp
  • Verity Hodgson-Fopp
  • Bartolina Iacono
  • Tara Kljajevic
  • Stella Lacchia-Schmidt
  • Nancy Liang
  • Charlotte Lim
  • Sarah Lin
  • Harlow Locke
  • Sophie Low
  • Leah Maidment
  • Charlotte Mok
  • Avni Narang
  • Vaani Narang
  • Skye Nguyen
  • Jessy Nunn
  • Eloise Qiu
  • Leanna Shen
  • Avianna Tanios
  • Liberty Thanos
  • Olivia Wang
  • Sylvia Wang
  • Sherry Wei
  • Dora Weng
  • Sabine Woodhouse
  • Maggie Xu
  • May Zaichkowsky
  • Amaya Clapham
  • Caitlyn Law 
  • Zoe Baker
  • Henrietta Britton
  • Amanda Zhang

 Well done! Please come to the library to choose your bookmark.

Happy reading!

– Sharon Seymour
Teacher/Librarian

Events Term 1 and Upcoming in Term 2

Events Term 1 and Upcoming in Term 2

Sunday 6 April 2025 – Sydney Opera House Rehearsal

This is a compulsory rehearsal for the following SOH performing music ensembles (Taiko Senior Ensemble not required):

  • Angeli Choir
  • Chamber Choir
  • Concert Band
  • Junior Opera House Strings
  • Senior School Choir
  • Sinfonia
  • Small rock band (members TBC)
  • Stage Band
  • Symphonic Wind Band
  • Symphony Orchestra 

2025 SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE CONCERT

SUNDAY 6 April 2025 Rehearsal Schedule

9am – 3pm, Potts Hall, Auditorium, Junior School Music Rooms

  • Please bring your own lunch if your rehearsal times run over the lunch break
  • Dress is mufti
  • Students only need to attend rehearsals that they are members of the ensembles rehearsing
  • Angeli Choir students will be signed out by parents/carers at 11am from the main school gate (Gate 1 Corner Rowley Street and Park Street)
  • Year 9 and below must be accompanied by a parent on departure from school at Gate 1
  • If parents/carers are unable to collect their daughter, written permission must be sent to music@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au to advise of alternate arrangements
  • All students are required to sign in. Sheets will be posted in Potts Hall (Angeli Choir roll will be taken at the Junior School) 
  • Attendance is compulsory for all ensemble members
  • Please email music@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au if you have any questions

TIME

POTTS HALL

AUDITORIUM

JUNIOR SCHOOL MUSIC ROOMS

9am

Golden Slumbers

Symphony Orchestra & Senior School Choir – Small rock band (members TBC)

 

Touch The Sky

Angeli Choir

9.30am

How Can We know

Angeli Choir

Chamber Choir

Concert Band

Senior School Choir

Small rock band (members TBC)

Stage Band

Symphonic Wind Band

Symphony Orchestra

 

 

10am

ABBA

Angeli Choir

Chamber Choir

Concert Band

Senior School Choir

Small rock band (members TBC)

Stage Band

Symphonic Wind Band

Symphony Orchestra

 

 

10:30am

Fantasy

Angeli Choir

Chamber Choir

Concert Band

Senior School Choir

Small rock band (members TBC)

Stage Band

Symphonic Wind Band

Symphony Orchestra

 

 

11am

MORNING TEA

MORNING TEA

MORNING TEA

11.30am

Ghost Fleet

Concert Band

Symphonic Wind Band

Thomas Tallis

Sinfonia

Symphony Orchestra Strings

Junior Opera House Strings

 

12pm

Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend

Stage Band & Senior Choir

Thomas Tallis

Sinfonia

Symphony Orchestra Strings

Junior Opera House Strings

 

12.30pm

Choral Fantasy

Symphony Orchestra Senior School Choir

 

 

1pm

LUNCH

LUNCH

LUNCH

1.30pm

Dies Irae Lacrimosa

& Carmen Fantasy

Symphony Orchestra Chamber Choir

Witchcraft

Stage Band

 

2pm

Die Fledermaus

Symphony Orchestra

 

 

2.30pm

Maleus Malefecarum

Symphonic Wind Band

(Russian Seasons)

Chamber Orchestra

 

3pm

HOME

HOME

HOME

 

Friday 2 May 2025 – Sydney Opera House Rehearsal

This is a compulsory rehearsal for the following SOH performing music ensembles during the school day at MLC School:

  • Angeli Choir
  • Chamber Choir
  • Concert Band
  • Junior Opera House Strings
  • Senior School Choir
  • Sinfonia
  • Small rock band (members TBC)
  • Stage Band
  • Symphonic Wind Band
  • Symphony Orchestra
  • Taiko Senior Ensemble (Year 7 to Year 12)

Following the day rehearsal, all Year 3 to 6 students and Taiko Senior Ensemble students will go home at normal school dismissal. All remaining Year 7 – Year 12 students from the above ensembles will travel by bus to The Tops Conference Centre for a two day music camp,returning to school by bus around 5.30pm, Sunday 4 May 2025.

Detailed information and permission requests for the above will be available in your Omnia dashboard early next week.

From the Head of Senior School

From the Head of Senior School

Over the last few weeks, unfortunately, we have had a couple of instances where students have been unkind online. These interactions are happening outside of school hours, at the weekend and late in the evenings. During these instances some students are using Instagram and Snapchat to air grievances with each other in a public forum, sometimes sharing screenshots of private conversations.

When these interactions happen outside of school, unfortunately, they often still ‘spill over’ into school and disrupt the students from their learning and their healthy social interactions with one another. Please could we ask for your support in talking to your daughter about her online interactions and the platforms that she is using. Putting some restrictions on the time she spends online in the evenings will allow for time to reflect and to avoid posting with haste; something she may regret later. Ultimately of course, your daughter’s online interactions at home on your devices is something you manage as parents, however if we work together in partnership, our students will be supported to learn and navigate this space. Our Wellbeing team has had the opportunity to intervene and assist students and have difficult but necessary conversations with families.

Something very positive that has come from the issues we have had, however, is that there have been many upstanders in our community. Students have called out behaviour that they consider to be problematic and have supported their peers when necessary and we are very proud of this.

We are working hard to ensure that we are proactive in this space. During Academic Care last week, Marianna Carlino, Director of eLearning, presented to Year 8 students on Responsible and Safe Interactions on Social Media. The presentation asked students to consider both the benefits and pitfalls of their internet and social media use. Students were responsive to the focus on fostering positive social relationships through values such as kindness and compassion, which are essential to our interactions not just online but also face to face. Marianna also took time to take the cohort through the supports available online and in school to support them when faced with negative interactions in the social media space.  Marianna will also be presenting to other year groups on this and other areas such as digital footprint and reputation. group chat etiquette and online gaming.

Please take the time to peruse the supports eLearning support literature that we have available for parents here. Thank you to Marianna for the incredible work that she is doing to educate our students in this area.

You will also have seen Lisa Moloney’s article last week following the P&F forum hosted by Cybersafety expert Susan McLean. Please also see the array of articles that Susan has sent through in this issue of Audacia.

It is important to be clear, that we will work in partnership with you to ensure that girls feel safe at our school. Our Policy Statement in relation to bullying is very clear: “MLC School is committed to a high expectation of respect for others. All students and staff have the right to learn and teach in a supportive and caring environment. Bullying and harassment in all forms – physical, verbal, electronic, emotional, psychological, and social – are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

The procedure we follow in investigating allegations is outlined on page 151 of the student diary and consequences including parent meetings, detentions, internal and/or external suspensions will follow if a complaint is sustained. As always, we will also work with the students in a restorative and reflective manner to ensure that they learn from the experience.

Thank you for your support in being proactive with your daughters. It is certainly a difficult space to walk in as parents, though I hope knowing you have the supports at school to assist.

Staffing news

English

Fiona Pow, Head of Students Year 10 – Year 12, will be on long service leave during Term 2. To ensure a smooth continuation of leadership, Angela Renwick has agreed to step in as Acting Head of Students Year 10 to Year 12. Angela’s expertise will be invaluable in supporting the Heads of Year (HOYs) and students as they move through this crucial stage of the year.

To further support our students and the team, Kate Schurch will step in to assist with Angela’s Year 11 group. Kate is well-acquainted with this group, having served as their Head of Year in 2024.

Please join me in expressing our gratitude to Angela and Kate for their support during this period and bon voyage to Fiona, who will be spending time back in the UK with family. Thank you also to Samantha Cook who will be ably stepping into Fiona’s English classes which include Year 11 IB, Year 9 English and Year 10 English. Samantha is known to the students as she has been with the faculty in a part time basis in Term 1.

Study Hub

Monday

CANCELLED FOR SWIMMING CARNIVAL

 

Tuesday

English/HSIE

Emily Marsh

 

Maths

Alex Schroder

Wednesday

TAS

Marian Guerra

 

Science

Hallie Kim

Thursday

Languages

Erika Pieri

 

Maths

Toby Duncan

 

– Joanna Graffen
Head of Senior School

Year 7

Year 7

What an amazing week for Year 7. On Tuesday the girls had their first Year 7 Chapel in the Chapel with Pastor Caitlin and it was a lovely service. The Year 7 volunteers spoke beautifully and proudly during the service. On Thursday, the Year 7’s met with their Year 11 Big Sisters and shared Easter treats in their very cute bunny baskets. Our Big Sister Little Sister time also coincided with Environment Day and our own MLC School Earth Hour so the added element of a bit of darkness was lots of fun. And finally, Year 7 had the honour of being part of the special welcome assembly for Her Majesty The Queen of Tonga on Friday. The girls looked polished and professional in their uniforms and we are truly excited for the developing partnership between Queen Salote College and MLC School.

Next Monday is the House Swimming Carnival, which the girls are all really looking forward to. Students will come to school in their PE uniform and House shirt. Students are encouraged to dress up in their House theme, but should put on the rest of their costume once they are at school. Students will go to their 1A classroom to have their roll marked then will spend the rest of the day in the Aquatic Centre. There will be no access to the main campus, including lockers and the canteen throughout the day. I look forward to seeing Year 7 participate and have a great day.

– Claire White
Head of Year 7

Year 7 Chapel speakers with Pastor Caitlin Scott
Year 8

Year 8

On Monday, Penny Hewett (Head of Year 10) and I had the great pleasure of joining nine Year 8 students at a Round Square Ethical Reasoning Seminar. The students participated in a range of activities and discussions centred on challenging moral and ethical thinking. Students from Redlands, Oxley College, Barker College and MLC School came together to collaborate on applying ethical reasoning to (amongst others) dilemmas such as the Heinz dilemma. Thank you, Xavier Maling (Round Square Coordinator), for organising this engaging initiative for our Year 8 students.  

Students reflected the following at the end of the day:  

‘The Ethics Seminar at Redlands has led me to think about possible solutions and alternatives to ethical and moral dilemmas that don’t necessarily have a right or wrong answer, these questions have challenged my thinking and hinted that perhaps the best way to resolve certain problems that don’t have a good solution any way is to prevent them from happening in the first place.’
Jenny Chen (Year 8)

‘At the Ethics Seminar at Redlands, I learnt about some really interesting ethical dilemmas and ideas and was able to discuss these with some awesome new people. It was super fascinating to see how these ethical issues are displayed in pop culture such as sci-fi movies and how older ethical ideas have aged and become less applicable as society progresses.’
Audrey Buck (Year 8)

I really enjoyed working my brain and thinking about morals and the reasons behind our actions, mainly since I wouldn’t really think about this on a daily basis. I also enjoyed talking with new people and understanding their opinions on it as well.’
Bonnie Li (Year 8)

Back at school on Monday, Year 8 again spent quality time with their Big Sisters from Year 12. Students participated in some Easter Trivia, enjoyed being rewarded with some chocolatey delights supplied by Sharon Connolly (Head of Year 12) and took the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company!  

I want to wish everyone a wonderful day on Monday 31 March 2025 (Week 10) for the Senior School House Swimming Carnival. Students should travel to and from school in their sports uniform, including House shirt, and should only add their costumes and/or decorations for their House theme once they are at the pool deck. Students are reminded that there will be no access to the Canteen across the day and so should pack enough food and their water bottle for the day. As this is a school day, the phone policy does apply, all phones should remain in student lockers for the duration of the carnival.   

With Term 1 starting to wind down, please make sure you are checking the hem length and sizing of your daughter’s winter uniform. The winter uniform will be worn from the first day of Term 2.  

Key Dates for the Diary:  

  • Sunday 30 March 2025 – Sutton Senior House Chapel Service and Morning Tea (9am) 
  • Sunday 30 March 2025 – Prescott Senior House Chapel Service and Morning Tea (10.30am) 
  • Monday 31 March 2025 – Senior School House Swimming Carnival  
  • Friday 11 April 2025 – Final day of Term 1, 2025  
  • Tuesday 29 April 2025 – First day of Term 2, 2025 

– Bridget Kovats
Head of Year 8

Click on gallery to view full images

Year 9

Year 9

This week, students in Year 9 celebrated Earth Day by taking part a range of activities to raise awareness and take action for our planet. During Luminary, students turned off lights and technology to participate in Earth Hour. This was a great opportunity to engage in conversations about environmental issues and what students can do to make a difference. Year 9 Mooramoora students also assisted in the waste-free bake sale at lunchtime, with all proceeds going to the Australian Conservation Foundation. It was a fantastic event and all students who baked and sold goods are to be congratulated – I walked away with enough treats to feed the whole family!

Final Reminders – Year 9 Adventure Camp

This week, students in Year 9 who are attending the Adventure camp took part in an information session with Urban Challenge. During this session, they met their MLC School teacher leaders, found out their teams and other key information. Within their teams, students were allocated various roles such as leader, navigator, treasurer, journo, photographer, task master etc. It is going to be a fantastic opportunity for all students to work as a team, take responsibility for a broad range of decisions and functions, and to have an exciting, fun adventure in Sydney!

A recommended equipment list can be found on the Urban Challenge website. Please note that:

  • Gear should be packed in a backpack (the MLC School backpack or rucksack of similar size). Shoulder bags and suitcases are not It is important to pack minimal gear as students will be carrying their backpack each day throughout the challenge.
  • Linen, pillow cases and blankets are supplied.
  • Students are not required to bring a towel – Urban Challenge will supply a pack towel for all participants.
  • Students are not permitted to bring their phones or other electronic devices on this camp.

A final reminder that any medication that your daughter needs to bring must be given to the MLC School Health Centre. Medication must be clearly labelled in a zip lock bag with dosage instructions and be accompanied by a medication authority form. All S4 and S8 medication must be in a webster pack from the pharmacy. Please note this will take the pharmacy several days to prepare.

Watch the video here for a quick information video to assist you to prepare your daughter for the camp.

Please contact Angela Renwick by email here should you have any queries. 

Finally, a reminder about the Annual Swimming Carnival – this Monday 31 March 2025

– Emily Marsh
Head of Year 9

Year 10

Year 10

There was no denying that Week 9 was an incredibly busy week for all Year 10 students with regards to their assessment tasks. I was so proud of how the approached and managed the week. From my observations, overall, they were calm, prepared and ready to complete the tasks. They approached the week with a positive attitude and tackled the challenge of juggling multiple commitments really well.

There are a few important updates and reminders for Year 10 students:

 

  1. Annual Swimming Carnival – Monday 31 March 2025

The annual Swimming Carnival is taking place this Monday, and I’m excited to see Year 10 get involved. It’s a day that brings together students of all swimming abilities, fostering a sense of connection and belonging across the school. I hope your daughter enjoys the day, whether she’s swimming, cheering, or supporting her peers. It’s sure to be a fun and memorable event for all!

  1. Year 10 Vaccinations – Thursday 3 April 2025

A quick reminder that the Year 10 vaccinations will take place this Thursday 3 April 2025. Please ensure you’ve signed and returned the consent form for your daughter. On the day of vaccinations, Year 10 will be permitted to wear their MLC School PE uniform to and from school and for the duration of the day. Please note, all other uniform rules, including those around jewelrey and makeup, remain in place. Read more about the vaccination consent form in this newsletter.

  1. Round Square Exchange Opportunity with South Africa 2025

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Year 10 on behalf of Sarah Jauncey (Director of Experiential Learning) about the incredible Round Square Exchange opportunity with South Africa. It’s always a joy to engage with students about the wide variety of opportunities available to them here at MLC School. These experiences are a fantastic way to broaden their horizons and provide a truly holistic education. If you or your daughter are interested in learning more about the exchange program, please don’t hesitate to contact Sarah Jauncey at sjauncey@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au.

– Penny Hewett
Head of Year 10

Click on gallery to view newsletter

Year 10 – Play it Safe Program

Year 10 – Play it Safe Program

This term, Year 10 students have participated in the Play It Safe program with exciting skill-building lessons, where they learned the fundamentals of Ultimate Frisbee, European Handball, and Soccer. After mastering key techniques and strategies, they put their new skills to the test in friendly but competitive round robin games. Throughout these contests, students showed incredible support for each other and their peers, demonstrating excellent teamwork and sportsmanship. Whether it was creating tactics, assisting with refereeing, or boosting team morale, Year 10 displayed both skill and spirit on the field, embracing the challenges of the game while fostering a positive and supportive environment for all.

– Jane Timor
Teacher

Click on gallery to view full images

 

Year 10 PASS

Year 10 PASS

Year 10 PASS (Physical Activity and Sport Studies) students have had some wonderful opportunities this term as a part of the ‘Promoting Active Lifestyles’ unit, participating in two incursions during their practical lesson time. 

Students participated in an Aqua Sculpt session which incorporated strength, flexibility, balance, and stability on floating mats while performing Pilates-inspired movements and balance challenges in the pool. The sessions tested their core strength but also added an element of fun as they worked to stay balanced on the water.

We also had an instructor from Kefi Studio in Five Dock run a mat Pilates session in the gym. This session focused on controlled movements, breathing and proper form, reflecting Joseph Pilates’ original repertoire. Students worked with concentration to improve their muscular endurance and overall body awareness.

These experiences have given students valuable insight into a variety of physical activity opportunities, supplementing the work they have done in theory lessons. We are so proud of the efforts of all Year 10 PASS students, and hope these opportunities encourage them to continue exploring new and exciting ways to stay active.

– Emily Osborne 
Teacher

Click on gallery to view full images

Year 11

Year 11

Returning to a regular timetable

It has been wonderful having Year 11 return to regular classes from Tuesday 25 March this week. Oral assessments and catch-up assessments should also be completed by today. Now, we enter the process of receiving results, feedback and reflection.

As your daughters receive their results from their first Year 11 examination block, we want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication they have shown. This is a significant milestone in their academic journey, and it’s important to celebrate their efforts and progress. Embracing a growth mindset, we encourage you to view these results as a stepping stone for further development. Every challenge and success is an opportunity for learning and growth. We can all support Year 11 in reflecting on their experiences, understanding their strengths, and identifying areas for improvement. Together, we can foster resilience and an appreciation for learning that will serve them well in the future. 

Year 11 Senior Pass

Thank you to those parents who have already completed the Senior Pass Agreement form. If you have overlooked this, please remember to go onto Omnia to complete the Senior Pass Agreement form under School Information, Senior School, Year 11. Once approved, Year 11 students can arrive by 9am if they have a study period in 1a and leave school at 2.20pm if their last supervised period of the day is 3a.

I hope the Prescott and Sutton families enjoy their House Chapel services this weekend.

If you have any queries, I can be contacted via email at arenwick@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au or my direct line at 8741 3278.

Angela Renwick
Head of Year 11

Dates coming up:

  • Sunday 30 March 2025 – Sutton Senior House Chapel Service and Morning Tea (9am) 
  • Sunday 30 March 2025 – Prescott Senior House Chapel Service and Morning Tea (10.30am) 
  • Monday 31 March 2025 – Senior School House Swimming Carnival  
  • Friday 11 April 2025 – Final day of Term 1, 2025

Year 12

Year 12

Year 12 had the opportunity to meet as a year group this week to celebrate their achievements so far this term. Summer co-curricular is a busy time with Rowing, Debating, Round Square, Harmony Day, music preparation for Opera House, STEM, DART, Dance, Cadets and Sport, including AFL and Tildesley Tennis. For some activities, our girls have participated for the last time in their school career. Each Tuesday Andrew Taylor (Deputy Head of Senior School – Pastoral Care and Wellbeing) and I meet with the captains to discuss new initiatives and to check in with the girls in their portfolio roles. The House Captains, of course, have been busy organising their houses and the synchronised swimming entries for the House Swimming Carnival (Monday 31 March 2025). All parents and carers are welcome to attend. The Carnival is held in the MLC School Aquatic Centre and the synchronised swimming takes place at around 2pm. It will be a fantastic day.

In academic news, the Italian IB ab initio Oral Exams took place this week. Year 12 have been preparing for this event for two years as part of their IB language study. This is a major achievement and while a nerve-wracking experience, you could sense the relief and pride in their efforts. A big thank you goes to the IB Italian team who have supported the girls – Elisa Tagliabue, Erika Pieri, Rosa Scalzo, Antonio Boschiero (HOD Languages) and Priscilla Quintana (IB Coordinator).

The Student Progress Conversations have continued this week, and we hope you have found it helpful to meet with to discuss your daughter’s engagement. If you still require an appointment, please contact the member of staff allocated to you by email for a appointment time. Please contact me on sconnolly1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu,au or 02 8741 9736 if you need assistance.

In luminary time, we had the pleasure of hosting Year 8 for Big Sister, Little Sister for a special Easter quiz. There were lots of laughs and cheers as they competed for the chocolate prizes – a great morning. Our image this week is of Year 12 from Whitley House working together with their little sisters, including Angelina Le (Whitley Captain), Eve Banyer, Zyah de Araujo, Manaal Osmani and Laureen Leong.

– Sharon Connolly
Head of Year 12

Course information and webinars

Course information and webinars

Medicine Information Night

Organisation: Charles Sturt University
Location: Online
Date: Tuesday 1 April 2025

Get ready for a rewarding career and make a positive difference in your community with our five-year undergraduate entry degree, Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine) / Doctor of Medicine. Based on our Orange campus, Charles Sturt University offers the Joint Program in Medicine in partnership with Western Sydney University. You can expect to study for two years, followed by three years of rural and regional placements.

Whether you’re in high school, looking for a career change or keen to take the next step in your health career — this information night is for you! Parents, carers and career advisers are also welcome to attend.

Find out more and register

Year 10 Info Evenings: Subject Selection

Organisation: University of New South Wales
Location: Online
Date: Tuesday 1 April to Thursday 3 April 2025

Get advice and information that’s specially tailored for Year 10 students, that will help you navigate the HSC subject selection process, explain how UNSW admissions and scholarship applications work, and give you an insight into transitioning into university life so that you can get a head start on planning your future.

Parents and teachers of Year 10 students are invited to join the evening as well as participate in the live Q&A session.

Find out more and register

How to find your rhythm in Music

Organisation: University of Sydney
Location: Online
Date: Wednesday 2 April 2025

A career in music can take countless forms. Join us as we dive into the diverse world of music careers through the eyes of our successful Sydney Conservatorium of Music alumni and academic staff. Discover the secrets behind their soaring careers, from pivotal inspirations to the doors they opened and the wisdom they gained along the way. Tune in for an inspiring session that will ignite your passion and guide your own musical journey towards success.

Find out more and register

Simulated UCAT Day Workshop, Online

Organisation: National Institute of Education
Location: Online
Date: Saturday 5 April 2025

If you are in Years 10, 11, 12, or you may be older and considering sitting the UCAT in the future, then this program is for you. The Simulated UCAT Workshop program is ideal and often a necessary step towards effective and efficient preparation for the UCAT.

The workshop is primarily designed to cover fundamental techniques in navigating all five sections of the UCAT test and also for participants to gain a better understanding of their own level of preparedness for the test.

The program runs over one full day of UCAT training, and Part 2, which is a three hour session for students and parents.

Find out more and register

– Jo Cilia
Head of Futures and Pathways

Australian National University – Early Entry

Australian National University – Early Entry

Applications are currently open.

ANU provides a pathway for Tuckwell scholarship recipients to study the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery program after completion of their ANU undergraduate degrees(s).

The Australian National University (ANU) directly covers admission, accommodation and scholarships. It is a free application, which gives students five program preferences and allows them to apply for the prestigious Tuckwell Scholarship Program.

Early offer application timeline

  • Monday 3 March 2025 – Early offer applications open
  • Thursday 10 April 2025 – Tuckwell Scholarship application close
  • Monday 14 April 2025 – Tuckwell Scholarship Stage 1 application form submission closes
  • Thursday 15 May 2025 – Early offer application close
  • Thursday 4 September 2025 – Early offers released

Useful resources

Find out more and apply

Preparing for your application – HSC and IB Year 12 students:

  • HSC students do not need to upload reports as ANU will get the Year 11 results from NESA

  • IB students can upload Year 11 Semester 1 and Semester 2 reports (students don’t need to submit the subject forms) 

  • Both HSC and IB students DO need to complete the Year 12 subject enrolment. Students are to fill in subjects and email to Ms Cilia to sign-off before submitting.

Any questions can be directed to Jo Cilia, Head of Futures and Pathways, jcilia1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au

– Jo Cilia
Head of Futures and Pathways

Holiday Workshops and Experiences

Holiday Workshops and Experiences

Australian Institute of Music Holiday Workshop – Performance

Organisation: Australian Institute of Music
Location: AIM Sydney Campus
Date: Monday 14 April 2025

AIM’s new school holiday workshop is designed for high school students interested in music performance. Created for students in Year 9 to Year 12, the workshops provide incredible opportunities to experience playing and performing music, mentored by AIM’s own accomplished musicians and educators.

Learn, practice and perform contemporary and classic pop, rock and soul tunes, under the expertise of Australia’s leading music mentors.

Find out more and register

Australian Institute of Music Holiday Workshop – Songwriting

Organisation: Australian Institute of Music
Location: AIM Sydney Campus
Date: Monday 14 April 2025

Created for students in Year 9 to Year 12, AIM’s new high school music workshops provide incredible opportunities to explore songwriting, mentored by AIM’s own accomplished musicians and educators.

This songwriting workshop is essential for any high school students curious about writing songs and performing and is a golden opportunity to work with incredibly accomplished songwriters. Join us these school holidays and discover the songwriter and performer you were born to become.

Find out more and register

Future Creators’ Day

Organisation: University of New South Wales
Location: UNSW Paddington Campus
Date: Monday 14 April 2025

Future Creators’ Day is a hands-on experience for Year 10 and 11 students passionate about creativity, design, and visual storytelling. Hosted by UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture, this event is the perfect opportunity to explore future study and career paths in the creative industries.

Join us on campus for a day of immersive workshops led by expert academics and industry professionals. Get a taste of our newly offered Game Art specialisation, along with workshops in Animation, Painting, Textiles & Fashion Design, Object Design, and Graphic Design. Whether you’re interested in digital art, interactive storytelling, or traditional design disciplines, this event is designed to help you develop your skills and discover your creative potential.

Connect with like-minded students, experience university life, and gain insights into studying at UNSW. Future Creators’ Day is your chance to turn your creative passion into a future career.

Find out more and register

School Holiday ‘Out There’ Sailing Program

Organisation: Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
Location: Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
Date: Monday 14 April to Thursday 17 April 2025

The ‘Out There’ School Holiday Sailing Program is for participants who are 12-17 years old looking to try a new activity, have some fun and engage with others whilst sailing.

This four-day program will include a variety of sailing activities that are focused on having fun and learning basic sailing skills. Sessions will be conducted on a mix of Club vessels, including the RPAYC’s fleet of Elliott 7 Keelboats, Pacer Dinghies, Windsurf and SUP Boards, Hobie-Cat dinghies and Powerboats.

Find out more and register

Empower Her: Women in Finance, Economics, and Politics Workshop

Organisation: University of New South Wales
Location: UNSW Parramatta Innovation Hub
Date: Monday 14 April to Tuesday 15 April 2025

Join us for an empowering two day workshop focused on Women in Finance, Economics, and Politics, hosted at the UNSW Parramatta Innovation Hub. This event is designed to inspire and equip women (cis and trans) with the knowledge and skills to excel in these fields.

This workshop is specifically aimed at Year 11 and Year 12 high school female-identifying students, providing them with a unique opportunity to:

  • Gain Early Exposure: Get a head start in understanding the fields of finance, economics, and politics before entering university or the workforce.

  • Build Confidence: Develop confidence in managing personal finances and exploring career paths traditionally dominated by men.

  • Meet Role Models: Interact with successful women professionals who can serve as role models and mentors, offering guidance and inspiration.

  • Hands-On Learning: Participate in interactive activities and simulations that make learning about finance and economics engaging and practical.

  • Career Insights: Explore various career options and understand the skills and qualifications needed to succeed in finance, economics, and politics.

  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers and professionals, building a network that can support your future career aspirations.

Find out more and register

Experience Macquarie Days

Organisation: Macquarie University
Location: Macquarie Wallumattagal Campus
Date: Monday 14 April to Tuesday 15 April 2025

Make the most of the April school holidays by spending ‘a day in the life’ of a uni student!

Our Experience Macquarie Days give you the opportunity to attend information sessions and interactive workshops, tour our state-of-the-art facilities and learning spaces, and explore our campus with a Macquarie student guide. You’ll have the flexibility to structure your day around your interests – the choice is yours.

Whether you’re certain about your future path or you’re still exploring your options, these taster days will give you a feel for university life, connect you with students just like you, and maybe even get you thinking about fields of study that you’re yet to consider.​

Find out more and register

Discover Health Sciences at ACU North Sydney

Organisation: Australian Catholic University
Location: ACU North Sydney Campus
Date: Thursday 24 April 2025

Are you ready to explore a career that makes a real difference? Discover what it’s like to study nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy or speech pathology at ACU North Sydney.

Take part in hands-on workshops where you’ll get a feel for the practical skills you’ll develop as a future healthcare professional.

Tour our campus and experience our state-of-the-art, fully functional simulation wards, where you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the innovative training that makes ACU health sciences graduates highly sought after by employers.

Find out more and register

 – The Careers Department

Scholarships and Competitions

Scholarships and Competitions

Torrens University – Vogue Australia Scholarship

Organisation: Torrens University Australia
Location: Australia
Value: 50% off course fees
Open Date: Saturday 1 March 2025
Close Date: Monday 19 May 2025

Find out more

Competitions

Tax, Super + You Competition

Organisation: Australian Taxation Office
Location: Australia
Value: $1,000 plus $1,000 for your school
Open Date: Monday 24 September 2025
Close Date: Friday 5 September2025

Find out more

  – The Careers Department

Open Days

Open Days

UNSW College Open Day

Organisation: University of New South Wales
Location: UNSW College Campus
Date: Saturday 5 April 2025

Thinking about your options after high school?

Discover how UNSW College can help you progress straight into second year at UNSW Sydney – no compromises, no delays. With May and August ‘25 intakes available, you won’t have to wait long to start your UNSW journey.

At our Open Day, you’ll get a taste of college life, immerse yourself in our vibrant community, and find out how a UNSW College Diploma can set you up for a lifetime of success.

Find out more and register

Sydney Design School Open Day

Organisation: Sydney Design School
Location: Sydney Design School
Date: Saturday 5 April 2025

If you’re considering studying with us, our Open Day is a great way to get to know us better. Explore our studios, browse through our Graduate Exhibition, meet students and Educators, watch a live Info Session and get creative making a mood board or digital model.

Find out more and register

Academy of Interactive Entertainment Open Day

Organisation: Academy of Interactive Entertainment
Location: AIE Sydney Campus
Date: Saturday 24 May 2025

Discover the courses designed to get you started in game development, 3D animation, film and visual effects at the AIE Open Day. It’s is a great opportunity to meet our teachers, staff and students. The day will cover everything you need to know about the:

  • careers in games and VFX that we train students for;

  • studios and industries that we work with;

  • courses we offer – from beginners to professional mastery, and;

  • the software, skills and knowledge we teach.

AIE’s Open Day will also include presentations on entry requirements and how to apply. Find out how AIE can get you into a creative career.

Find out more and register

– Jo Cilia
Head of Futures and Pathways

From the Principal

Launch of the 2025-2027 Strategic Plan

Throughout 2024, MLC School staff, Executive and Council collaborated to consider our strategy for the coming years.

The 2025 and beyond Strategic Plan builds on our legacy of almost 140 years of providing outstanding education for young women, underpinned by the values and ethos of the Methodist (and now Uniting) Church. In developing the plan, we considered staff, parent and student feedback from whole school surveys, Year 12 exit surveys, parent forums and discussion groups as well as input and professional expertise of our staff. I know our community will recognise where their input has been incorporated.   

It was clear from the feedback that our School community has clearly indicated that while they value academic growth and achievement, they do not want us to pursue high academic results at all costs. Rather, the development of the whole girl is paramount, this is very much in line with our founding ethos. As a consequence, ensuring we remain focused on the attributes we believe are important for our graduates is central to this new plan.

We firmly believe every girl deserves to thrive, to be a confident learner, and to feel a sense of belonging. MLC School aims to create an environment where girls can become their best selves, free from the world’s often limiting messages about women’s roles. To achieve her full potential, a young woman needs a supportive environment that encourages boldness, safely supports risk-taking, and builds resilience; where she knows she belongs, no matter the challenges that she faces.

To ensure we offer the best and most current education, we will renew our focus on the academic success of our students and seek to further our contribution to girls’ education, working with tertiary institutions and professional organisations to ensure a strong evidence base for our approaches and where appropriate, publishing and presenting on matters related to girls’ education.

Throughout our history, MLC School graduates have made significant contributions to society because they know their worth and their responsibilities. This plan continues that inspiring legacy, paving the way for future graduates to make an equally profound impact on the society they will enter.

I invite you to read through the 2025 – 2027 Strategic Plan which is available here to gain an understanding of the key drivers and focus areas for the School over the next three years.

Visit from Her Majesty Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho of Tonga

Today we were honoured by a visit from Her Majesty Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho of Tonga, as recognition of the significance of the partnership between MLC School and Queen Salote College.

Her Majesty enjoyed a morning of celebration attended by dignitaries from Australia and Tonga and representatives of the Uniting Church. The day started with a welcome assembly with Year 6 and Year 7 students in the audience. There was a Chapel Service and visits to classrooms including a Senior Science class. Year 2 and Year 3 students waved the Tonga flags, as the Queen processed into the Senior Centre to the rhythms of the Taiko. Her Majesty stopped to speak with our Middle Leaders and was exceptionally interested in our students. I was so proud of our musicians who were exemplary throughout the day, and our Indigenous dancers who impressed the Queen with their storytelling through dance. 

The collaboration between MLC School and in Tonga aims to enhance educational opportunities, foster cultural exchange, and strengthen the bonds between the two institutions.

From the time that I started at MLC School, one question that parents and students regularly asked me was whether we could have a sister school partnership with Queen Salote College in Tonga. As many of you will be aware, Newington College has a long and most successful relationship with the boys’ school Tupou College, and several of our families have been enriched through meeting and working with the Tongan members of the Newington community.

I am so pleased that through the support of Her Majesty, the Queen Salote College Council and ex-students association, the MLC School Council and the staff and students at both schools we have been able to reinvigorate the friendship that began all those years ago.

I had the great honour of visiting Tonga and spending time at Queen Salote College last year and I knew from our first welcome that we would indeed be able to build a very special and mutually rewarding partnership.

Although our schools are geographically some distance from each other, it has become most apparent that we are more similar than we are different and have so many things in common:

  • our shared Methodist foundations and beliefs,
  • the central part that music plays in both schools,

Both schools also share a commitment to the education of young women in an environment where they can:

  • reach their full academic potential
  • express and develop their faith
  • grow up knowing that they can achieve whatever they put their minds and effort to
  • be supported to become the leaders of tomorrow
  • and now, also experience the joy of being part of a community that extends beyond geographic boundaries

In recent days we have also been honoured to host the Principal and leaders from Queen Salote College at MLC School. Discussions were around how we might provide opportunities for the students and staff of Queen Salote College and MLC School to learn from each other, how we can support the International stream at Queen Salote College and the opportunities to progress our special relationship.

I look forward to what the future holds for our schools and our communities- I believe that together we can build a wonderful program of mutual learning.

Congratulations to our Tildesley Tennis team

The IGSA Tildesley Tennis competition is a prestigious annual event that is eagerly anticipated by all IGSA schools. The Tildesley Shield Tennis competition was first held in 1918, and many competitors have gone on to become professional sportspeople. Making the Tildesley team is an achievement in itself and many of our Old Girls recall doing so as one of their greatest achievements while at school.

This year MLC School were awarded the Spender Trophy for being the Most Improved School, ranking 5 places higher than they did in 2024.

Congratulations to all players and their coaches.

Click on gallery to view images

– Lisa Moloney
Principal

Sydney Opera House Concert – Tickets now on Sale!

Sydney Opera House Concert – Tickets now on Sale!

Sydney Opera House Concert
Monday 19 May 2025
7pm

The MLC School Sydney Opera House Concert is one of the hallmark events on the School’s calendar.

This is a compulsory event for all students in Year 6 to Year 12. All students in Years 6 to Year 12 will be performing (in music ensembles or the choir) and do not need a ticket. Students will be seated in house groups not with their parents.

The Junior School Angeli Choir will also attend and perform in the concert. Please click here for further rehearsal information for Angeli Choir.

More details about the day will be sent from the Head of Senior School and the Head of Junior School closer to the date.

Tickets are now on sale!
Book tickets here

 

Information for Term 2 Music and Co-Curricular

Information for Term 2 Music and Co-Curricular

Please be advised that all Co-Curricular and Music activities listed below will resume in Week 1 of Term 2 (starting Tuesday 28 April 2025) and conclude at the end of Week 9. If your daughter has classes on Monday, they will resume in Week 2 (Starting Monday 5 May 2025).

Please note that this does not include sport.

Co-curricular Activity

Return Week

Classes

Pre-K to Year 2 After School Program

Week 1

Dance, Ballet,
Art Studio Practice, Gymnastics, Physio Play, Speech and Drama,

Dance Companies (Y7-12) and Ensembles (Y3-6)

Week 1

Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Pom and Ballet

STEM 

Week 1

Junior STEM Academy (Year 1 to Year 4)
STEM Academy (Year 5 to Year 10)
Senior Robotics

Junior Comp Robotics (Year 5 to Year 6)

Cadets

Week 1

Home Training

Debating

Week 1

Week 3

Oratory Classes
IPSHA Debating
ISDA/FED Debating

Archdale Debating

Speech and Drama

Week 1

All classes

ART

Week 1

Art Studio Practice (Year 3 to Year 5)
Creative Drawing Class (Y3 to Year 10)

Creative Painting Class (Year 6 to Year 10)

Still Life Painting (Year 6 to Year 10)

Co-curricular Music

Week 1

All music ensembles (except ensembles and quartets that rehearse on Monday will resume Week 2)

Private Music Tuition

 

Students will be advised by individual music tutors for Term 2 start back day/time.

 

Please note that Sport returns in Term 2 will be communicated by Lisa Filby (Director of Sport).
If you require any further information, please contact the Co-curricular coordinators.

Click here to viewer Co-Curricular Video

– Sarah Jauncey
Director of Experiential Learning

MLC School Careers and Tertiary Expo 2025

MLC School Careers and Tertiary Expo 2025

Wednesday 2 April 2025
6pm–8pm
Senior Centre

  • For students in Year 10 to Year 12 and their families.
  • Light refreshments will be available.

We are excited to invite students and their families to our upcoming Expo! This event is a fantastic opportunity to explore various courses, industries, and future pathways. To help you make the most of your visit, we are providing an advance copy of the MLC School Careers and Tertiary Expo Booklet and the UAC Course Finder. These resources will assist students in planning which exhibitors to speak with and answer any questions you may have.

This is a great opportunity to gather valuable information and insights into their next steps. We look forward to seeing you there!

Attendees can also look forward to key presentations from the following exhibitors:

PRESENTATIONS

Time: 6.15pm to 6.45pm – Academic Summer School at Oxford University, UK 
Our first academic tour July 2026! (for Year 9 and Year 10 students) Oxford Royale Highlights video

MLC School is thrilled to partner with Oxford Royale to offer an incredible opportunity for students to attend an Academic Summer School at Oxford University, UK  Sunday 5 – Saturday 18 July 2026. 

Oxford Royale is renowned for its world-class educational programs, giving students the chance to learn from expert tutors while immersing themselves in the historic and inspiring setting of one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Students can choose from a variety of subjects, including Medicine, Law, Economics, History, and more, gaining valuable insights and hands-on experience in their chosen field.  

Time: 7.15pm to 7.45pm – Universities Admissions Centre (UAC)
For Year 12 students

Join us for an essential presentation by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), where you’ll gain everything, you need to know about the university application process. This session will cover key topics, including how ATARs are calculated, application timelines, admission pathways, and key schemes such as the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) and the Educational Access Scheme (EAS). Learn about early entry opportunities, adjustment factors, and how to maximise your options for university study. Don’t miss this chance to get expert advice for students to be fully prepared for the journey ahead.

RSVP HERE
Any questions can be directed to Jo Cilia, Head of Futures and Pathways, jcilia1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au

– Jo Cilia
Head of Futures and Pathways

P&F Forum: Susan McLean’s Resource List for Cybersafety

P&F Forum: Susan McLean’s Resource List for Cybersafety

Thank you to the P&F for sponsoring the recent Parent Forum on Cybersafety by Susan McLean. Drawing on her extensive experience in the Police Force and online safety since 1994, Susan provided practical advice on managing the challenges of keeping children safe online and responding to cyberbullying.

Susan highlighted that children under 13 should not use social media, stressed the importance of parental controls, and recommended keeping digital devices out of bathrooms and bedrooms.

Here are the sources referenced by Susan as well as others she believes are beneficial for parents:

NSW School Vaccination Program – Year 7 and Year 10 Consent Required

NSW School Vaccination Program – Year 7 and Year 10 Consent Required

  • Thursday 3 April 2025 – Vaccination date for Year 10 students
  • Wednesday 30 July 2025 – Vaccination date for Year 7 students

If your child is in Year 7 or Year 10 this year, you can now provide online consent for their routine school vaccinations.

  • In Year 7, students are offered free vaccines for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV).
  • In Year 10, students are offered the meningococcal ACWY vaccine.

Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received.

If your child has already had their vaccine, would prefer to privately have it with a GP or if you are opting out – please write this in an email to mlcnurse@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au so we can provide the number of required Vaccines for the day.  

How to provide consent:

  1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit: https://engage.health.nsw.gov.au/engage
  2. Follow the steps to log in to your existing ServiceNSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. If you don’t have a ServiceNSW account, refer to ServiceNSW to create one. 
  3. Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required. 
  4. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:  
    1. Enter your child’s personal details 
    2. Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child 
    3. Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement. Translations available in 27 languages
    4. Provide consent  

If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper-based consent form directly from your child’s school.

The benefits of providing consent online:

  • easily update your child’s details
  • receive SMS and/or email notifications when vaccinations are given
  • faster upload of vaccination records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination.

If you require information in your language, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/school_vaccination_language.aspx

Please click here for the NSW School Vaccination Program 2025 pdf

– Katelyn Morris
MLC School Senior Nurse

Fittings, Extended Trading Hours and Pockets – News from the Uniform Shop

Fittings, Extended Trading Hours and Pockets – News from the Uniform Shop

Fittings

Winter uniform fitting appointments are now available. Students needing a fitting can book a 15-minute appointment using the link below.

Click here to book an appointment

Online ordering for new students is discouraged.

Extended Trading Hours

  • Closing for the School holidays – Friday 11 April 2025 – 4pm
  • Reopening for Term 2 – Thursday 24 April 2025

Term 2 Extended Trading Hours

  • Thursday 24 April 2025 – 9am–3pm
  • Monday 28 April 2025 – 9am–3pm

Normal trading hours will resume on Tuesday 29 April 2025

  • Monday to Tuesday – 8am–4pm
  • Wednesday – closed
  • Thursday to Friday – 8am–4pm

Blazer embroidery is now available

As advised in last week’s newsletter, embroidery is now available.

Students who require pockets sewn on to their blazer, please complete the form below:

Pocket Order Form

Please hand in to the Uniform Shop by Friday / Tuesday at 10am and the Blazer should be ready for collection after 2pm on the following Tuesday / Friday.

Burwood Youth Festival – Performer Applications now open!

Burwood Youth Festival – Performer Applications now open!

Expression Of Interest performer applications are now OPEN for the Burwood Youth Festival! If you would like to showcase your skills in music or dance, this is your moment to shine! Whether you’re going solo or bringing your crew, this festival is the perfect stage to show off your talent. Don’t sleep on this—come be part of this celebration of youth talent and creativity!

Apply now through this link and get ready to light up the stage!

Applications close Monday 31 March 2025

Study Support Opportunities at MLC School

Study Support Opportunities at MLC School

MLC School offers two Study Support Opportunities:

  • Year 11 and Year 12 After-Hours Study Hub
  • Year 7 to Year 12 Study Hub+

These operate 3.30pm–6pm Monday to Thursday during term time.

Year 11 and Year 12 After-Hours Study Hub

Recognising the importance of a conducive environment for focused study, MLC School has established a free after-hours Study Hub exclusively for our Year 11 and Year 12 students. Located on Level 3 of the Senior Centre, the Study Hub provides a quiet and supportive space where students can concentrate on their studies, complete assessments, and prepare for examinations under the supervision of experienced MLC School staff across many subject areas.

Key Features:

  • Experienced staff: Two teachers rostered each evening from different subject areas, to guide and assist students with their academic queries and provide valuable feedback.
  • Convenient location: Level 3 of the Senior Centre, providing easy access for Senior students.
  • Flexible hours: The study hub is open Monday to Thursday 3.30pm–6pm, allowing students to make the best use of their time outside regular school hours. Partial attendance is welcome.

We encourage all Year 11 and Year 12 students to take advantage of this excellent resource to enhance their learning experience and achieve their academic goals. The staff roster will be published in advance of each week in Audacia, the School newsletter. Students will be required to sign in on arrival to Study Hub and sign out on departure, as part of our student welfare management system.

There is no need to register for this program.

 


Year 7 to Year 12 Study Hub+ (formerly called ‘The After School Study Program’)

In addition to the After-Hours Study Hub, the School is continuing Study Hub+ (formerly called The After School Study Program), a private, pay-per use tutoring program. Formerly open to Year 10 to Year 12 students, it has now been expanded to all interested students from Year 7 to Year 12.

Monday 24 March 2025 for the last three weeks of Term 1  – Nomination Form here.

All information for Study Hub+ Support can be found in Omnia under School Information / Senior School / Year 7 – Year 12 After-Hours Study Hub+

This program aims to provide students with a quiet focused environment in which they can maximise their study time with assistance on hand when required. The sessions are led by Ela Huber, our Program Coordinator, and run with a team of highly supportive mentors, most of whom are pre-service teachers. They have subject matter expertise across a range of disciplines including English, Mathematics, the Sciences, History, Legal Studies, Economics, Geography, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE), Sports, Exercise and Health Science (SEHS) and Drama.

The study sessions are a phone free zone meaning students are required to hand in their phones at the start of each session. In addition to subject specific support our mentors can provide additional support in setting up study plans, examination preparation techniques and completion of assessments. Please note our mentors will provide verbal feedback on drafts only.

  • The sessions run from 3.30pm to 6pm Monday to Thursday on Level 1 of the Senior Centre.
  • It is expected that students will attend for the entirety of the session. If in exceptional circumstances your daughter needs to leave early this should be prearranged with the program coordinator.
  • The sessions are phone free, and your daughter will be expected to hand in her phone at the beginning of the session.
  • There will always be a minimum of two tutors at each session and these tutors rotate daily to give the students access to a variety of tutors and subject offers. Please note that all staff, while having subject specialities, are well rounded and can assist in all subject areas.
  • Each session will commence with a short goal setting exercise so there is a clear plan of what they wish to achieve in the time.
  • If your daughter has been registered for a session and does not attend without providing at least 24 hours’ notice, you will receive an email informing you of their non-attendance. However, if your daughter was absent from school that day, you will not be contacted and will not incur a charge. In all other cases, you will still be charged for the session.
  • Parents will be able to register their daughter two weeks in advance via a link on the parent portal Omnia and Audacia the weekly newsletter. If you wish to sign up on a termly basis, which is encouraged as it helps establish a routine in your daughter’s schedule, please inform Ela Huber, the program coordinator, via email here.
  • Parents will be able to register their daughter two weeks in advance via a link on the parent portal, and Audacia, the weekly newsletter.
  • The cost per session is $25. Charges will be added to your daughter’s account at the end of the term.

If you would like your daughter to attend, please register her through the link provided below. You can also register on Omnia by going to School Information/Senior School/After School Study.

If you have any questions, please contact the program coordinator, Ela Huber by email here.

Monday 24 March 2025 for the last three weeks of Term 1  – Nomination Form here.

– Joanna Graffen
Head of Senior School

New Parent Sport Handbook

New Parent Sport Handbook

Please make sure you look at the new Sport Handbook. It contains everything you need to know about sport at MLC School. If there is something missing, let us know and we can add it!

You can access the Sport Handbook on Omnia, or through this link. 

– Lisa Filby
Director of Sport

Senior School House Swimming Carnival

Senior School House Swimming Carnival

Information For Swimming Carnival

Monday 31 March 2025
MLC Aquatic Centre

  • Students go to their normal Period 1A room with their 1A teacher before 8.15am.

  • All students and staff should be at the pool by 8.25am.

  • Welcome and opening by Principal Lisa Moloney at 8.25am followed by National Anthem.

  • Marshalling will be in the gym. 

  • Students are encouraged to participate in all events to receive House points.  House Spirit points will be awarded for House Cheers throughout the day along with Splash for a Sash and Synchro Competitions.

  • At no stage are students allowed to leave the Aquatic Centre.

  • Students will be dismissed by House from the pool and move to the main campus.

  • Rolls will be marked by Luminaries on the Principal’s lawn / Bird Bath Quad—there may be combining of Luminary groups within your House.

  • This is a compulsory carnival for all students

What to bring

  • Swimming Cap

  • Goggles

  • Towel

  • Packed lunch

  • Water bottle

Students will not be allowed to have food delivered to the venue.

ORDER OF EVENTS 

  • Times are subject to change

  • Marshalling should be five minutes before the event

ROLL CALL

8.15 am

 

Event

Time

 

8.45 am

 

18. Year 6 50m Backstroke

11.15pm

1. Open Medley Relay

 

19. Year 7 50m Backstroke

 

 

 

20. Year 8 50m Backstroke

 

2. Year 6 50m Freestyle

9am

 

21. Year 9 50m Backstroke

 

3. Year 7 50m Freestyle

 

 

22. Year 10 50m Backstroke

 

4. Year 8 50m Freestyle

   

23. Year 11 50m Backstroke

 

5. Year 9 50m Freestyle

   

24. Year 12 50m Backstroke

 

6. Year 10 50m Freestyle

       

7. Year 11 50m Freestyle

   

25.  Year 6 50m Butterfly

12.15pm

8. Year 12 50m Freestyle

   

26. Year 7 50m Butterfly

 
     

27. Year 8 50m Butterfly

 

9.  Year 6 50m Breaststroke

9.45am

 

28. Year 9 50m Butterfly

 

10. Year 7 50m Breaststroke

   

29. Year 10 50m Butterfly

 

11. Year 8 50m Breaststroke

   

30. Year 11 50m Butterfly

 

12. Year 9 50m Breaststroke

   

31. Year 12 50m Butterfly

 

13. Year 10 50m Breaststroke

   

32. Diving Team Demo      Splash for a Sash

1.20 pm

14. Year 11 50m Breaststroke

   

All age 7x50m Free – 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 (1 per Year Group)

2pm

15. Year 12 50m Breaststroke

   

35. Synchronised Swimming

2.15pm

16. Staff vs Students Relay

10.45am

 

Dismissal

3.15 pm

 

– Lisa Filby
Director of Sport

 

Wonderful Tildesley Results

Wonderful Tildesley Results

Last Wednesday and Thursday, a group of 22 girls competed in the annual Tildesley Tennis tournament, the longest-running schoolgirl tennis tournament in Australian history. This year, we had some of our best results yet. Some notable achievements include:

  • Yasmine Allam (Year 8), Harlow Elsibai (Year 9) and Lana McLean (Year 12) making round 4 in singles
  • Angelina Xu (Year 10) and Kyra Narang (Year 10) making round 3 in doubles

Additionally, MLC School won the Spender Cup as the Most Improved School for 2025, moving from 19th place last year to 14th place this year. This goes to show the immense amount of effort and dedication these girls have put in. The extra training sessions and hard work have definitely paid off. All the coaches and I are super proud of everyone who competed and cheered on their teammates. Let’s go for more next year!

– Lana McLean (Year 12)
2025 Captain of Tennis

CIS Swimming And Diving Success

CIS Swimming And Diving Success

Congratulations to our primary school students who competed at CIS Swimming and Diving Championships on Wednesday. These girls represented MLC School and IPSHA in tremendous fashion!

Well done to the following girls who have progressed to the NSW PSSA Championships.

  • Vanilla Chen (Year 5) – Bronze medal in 50m Breaststroke
  • Emi Liu (Year 4) – Gold medal 50m Freestyle, Silver medal 50m Butterfly, Bronze medal 50m Backstroke
  • Gem McGuire (Year 4) – Gold Medal 50m Freestyle MC, Gold medal 50m Backstroke MC
  • Emma Yan (Year 3) – Gold Medal 8 Years Springboard
  • Elizabeth Feng (Year 3) – Silver medal 9 Years Springboard
  • Harper Begnell (Year 3) – Bronze medal 9 Year Springboard

– Lisa Filby
Director of Sport

Click on gallery to view full images

Important Sports Notices

Important Sports 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

Weekend Fixtures and Upcoming Dates

Friday 28 March 2025

AFL – ROUND 8
Team Opposition Venue Time
MLC03 Stella Maris Macquarie University 5.30pm

 

Saturday 29 March 2025

AFL – ROUND 8
Team Opposition Venue Time
MLC05 Abbotsleigh 5 Pymble Ladies College 2.30pm
BADMINTON – ROUND 8
Team Opposition Venue Time
MLC01 PLC Sydney 02  PLC Sydney Indoor 1 8am
MLC06 Tara 18  PLC Sydney Indoor 3 9.15am
MLC07 Pymble 19  Pymble Ladies College Indoor 7 10.30am
MLC08 Meriden 40  NBC Granville 6  10.30am
MLC09 Pymble 33 Pymble Ladies College Indoor 2 10.30am
MLC10 PLC Sydney 30 PLC Sydney Indoor 1 9.15am
MLC11 PLC Sydney 32  PLC Sydney Indoor 2 10.30am
MLC12 PLC Sydney 35 PLC Sydney Indoor 3 8am
TENNIS – ROUND 8
Team Opposition Venue Time
MLC01 Pymble 02 Pymble Ladies College Tennis Courts 10 & 11 7.30am
MLC09 Meriden 12 Southend Tennis Academy Courts 11 & 12 7.30am
MLC10 PLC Sydney 09 Cintra Park Courts 1 & 2 9.55am
MLC16 Tara 15 MLC School Synthetic Courts 7 & 8 9.55am
MLC17 Loreto Normanhurst 27 MLC School Synthetic Courts 1 & 2 7.45am
IPSHA WATER POLO – ROUND 7
Team Opposition Venue Time
MLC01 St Catherines 2 St Catherines 10.15am
IPSHA FOOTBALL – ROUND 7
Team Opposition Venue Time
MLC01 Ascham 1 Perry Park 1 9am
MLC02 SCEGGS 2 Perry Park 2 10am
MLC03 SCEGGS 3 (5B) Moore Park 8am
MLC04 Queenwood 5 Moore Park 4 9am
MLC05 Santa Sabina 7 ASCHAM 10am
MLC06 PLC Sydney PLC Sydney 1 10am
NETBALL – ROUND 1
Team Opposition Venue Time
MLC01 North Epping Rangers 01 Meadowbank Court 28 2pm
MLC02 Woolwich 10  Meadowbank Court 04 12.30pm
MLC03 St Andrews 09 Meadowbank Court 11 12.30pm
MLC04 MLC05 Meadowbank Court 17 12.30pm
MLC05 MLC04 Meadowbank Court 17 12.30pm
MLC06 Woolwich 13 Meadowbank Court 12 11am
MLC07 St Andrews 10 Meadowbank Court 20 11am
MLC08 West Ryde Rovers 12 Meadowbank Court 13 11am
MLC09 MLC10 Meadowbank Court 06 9.30am
MLC10 MLC09 Meadowbank Court 06 9.30am
MLC11 Woolwich 17 Meadowbank Court 05 9.30am
MLC12 West Ryde Rovers 16 Meadowbank Court 04 9.30am
MLC13 MLC14 Meadowbank Court 16 9.30am
MLC14 MLC13 Meadowbank Court 16 9.30am
MLC15 OLMC 07 Meadowbank Court 15 9.30am
MLC16 North Epping Rangers 12 Meadowbank Court 21 9.30am
MLC17 Gladesville Ravens 16 Meadowbank Court 08 8am
MLC18 Dundas United 06 Meadowbank Court 11 8am
MLC19 North Ryde RSL 13 Meadowbank Court 12 8am
MLC20 North Epping Rangers 14 Meadowbank Court 21 8am
MLC21 Marsfield Bluebelles 08  Brush Farm Court 04 9.30am
MLC22 Flames 10 Brush Farm Court 04 11am
MLC23 Spirits 07 Brush Farm Court 05 11am

 

Upcoming Dates

  • Monday 31 March 2025 – Senior School House Swimming Carnival, MLC School Aquatic Centre
  • Wednesday 2 April 2025 – IPSHA Cross Country, The King’s School, 9am–2pm

– Lisa Filby
Director of Sport

Round Square Ethics Collaboration

Round Square Ethics Collaboration

On Monday 24 March, nine Year 8 girls travelled to Redlands with Bridget Kovats and Penny Hewett to participate in the first Round Square Ethics Collaboration.

Students across 4 schools learnt about the fundamental tenets of ethical reasoning that form the basis of Round Square ideals, particularly internationalism and democracy. 

All students in attendance had the opportunity to exchange ideas around topics related to morality and ethics, such as:

  • At what stage does a child develop moral awareness?
  • What are the stages of moral development through which individuals attain increasingly complex skills in ethical reasoning?
  • Is morality a set of core principles/laws that are universal? Or are those principles shaped and dependent on different cultural perspectives?
  • Should moral principles be focused on the consequences of actions or the intentions behind them?
  • Should moral principles focus on achieving absolute justice/ equity for all, or on maximising happiness for the most people?

Through engaging with these complex questions and designing their own ethical principles for a more fair and just society,  students developed independent, critical thinking skills as well as their ability to solve problems collaboratively.

Discussions and activities were facilitated by Year 10 to Year 11 Redlands students who are part of the School’s Round Square Committee under the direction of Redlands teachers and staff from other Round Square schools. 

After the seminar students were asked to write a couple of sentences about what they enjoyed, their observations and learnt from the attending:

“The Ethics Seminar at Redlands has led me to think about possible solutions and alternatives to ethical and moral dilemmas that don’t necessarily have a right or wrong answer, these questions have challenged my thinking and hinted that perhaps the best way to resolve certain problems that don’t have a good solution any way is to prevent them from happening in the first place. I really enjoyed this day and got to socialise with lots of new people with different perspectives.”

“I really enjoyed the Ethics Seminar as it challenged my thinking and pushed me to my limits. It was nice to talk to people outside of school as it helped me socialise more.”

“I really enjoyed working my brain and thinking about morals and the reasons behind our actions, mainly since I wouldn’t really think about this on a daily basis. I also enjoyed talking with new people and understanding their opinions on it as well.”

“At the Ethics Seminar, I learnt about the Hienz Dilemma and the stages of moral development. The stages of moral development included, avoiding punishment, self-interest, good boy attitude, law and order morality, social contract then the universal principle. Based on the seminar, it really made me challenge to think about when a child first begins the moral development and what it would be like for them, and to back up opinion with three cons and three pros.”

“I enjoyed this experience as it changed my perspective on how different people at different stages of life can act upon different issues with different approaches. I particularly liked when we discussed The Heinz Dilemma.”

“I enjoyed that we got to socialise with other schools and see how they work and how they see things. At the start of the day, I had no knowledge of what ethics or moral meant, and by the end of the day I had a full understanding of what each of those words meant with examples.”

MLC School look forward to hosting the second seminar in Term 2 for Year 9 and Year 10 students.

– Xavier Maling
Round Square Coordinator

Round Square International Women’s Day Postcard

Round Square International Women’s Day Postcard

On Wednesday, MLC School had the opportunity to host the annual Round Square International Women’s Day postcard. A postcard is a weekly online student-led event, where schools around the world are given the opportunity to host a 60 minute call on a decided topic of the host school. 

Students from up to 30 different schools come together to engage in discussions and presentations in breakout rooms. Each breakout room has a group called a ‘baraza’, each baraza host is responsible for facilitating conversations and questions around the decided topic. This initiative was developed by Round Square in response to the conferences and events that were affected by the pandemic in order to keep students connected and allow them to continue having valuable discussions.

The focus of our postcard was the International Women’s Day (IWD)’s 2025 campaign theme, “Accelerate Action”, and was planned fully by the committed Round Square committee. Students brainstormed sub-topics, ideas surrounding our theme and formed insightful questions for the postcard. Seven amazing baraza leaders from Year 11 to Year 12 stepped up to lead these barazas and managed conversations around difficult but important topics.

Here are some personal experiences from the baraza hosts:

‘The conversations that were had in my group were incredibly insightful. We started by discussing what the theme “accelerating action” meant to each of us. We spoke about initiatives that were run at our respective schools and our conversation was focused around what we as individuals and our schools could do in the future in terms of working towards gender equity and equality.’
Amy Li (Year 12)

‘Leading a baraza group for the IWD postcard was a rewarding experience. My baraza group consisted of students from different schools across the globe. We discussed the campaign theme “accelerating action” for gender equality and what that meant to us as individuals in our generation. We discussed current issues and policies that cause setbacks in women’s rights today. Additionally, my group had a very insightful discussion about what initiatives we have taken at our respective schools and inspired each other with different ways we can actively promote gender equality.’
Elizabeth Goh (Year 12)

‘Our baraza group for the IWD postcard was an intriguing and fulfilling experience, to learn from schools across Australia and India about their perspectives on gender equality. We engaged in meaningful discussions, and explored the challenges and progress in achieving gender equity in different cultural and social contexts including quotas, the gender pay gap and the opportunities for the new generations to ‘Accelerate Action’. It was inspiring to hear diverse viewpoints and initiatives, reinforcing the importance of collective action. Ultimately, we found it to be a great experience, we gained valuable insights into how schools are fostering inclusivity and empowering young people to advocate for change.’
– Jordan Vo and Crystal Huang (Year 11)

‘The baraza sessions were a great opportunity to talk about pressing gender rights issues with students our age. My baraza group were very insightful as our conversations ranged from the negative impact of new policies on women’s rights to discussing the increase of the anti-feminist sentiment. We also discussed possible solutions we can implement in our schools and education system to help support future generations with gender equity issues. We ended the thoughtful baraza with asking ourselves one takeaway we can leave with. Overall, it was a great experience, thanks to the baraza hosts and Mr Maling for setting everything up.’
– Khushii Varma (Year 12) 

– Amy Li, Anita Mohanan, Elizabeth Goh, Hattie Russell, Jordan Vo, Crystal Huang and Khushii Varma

Click on gallery to view full images

Coming Soon: MLC School Senior Production – The Great Gatsby

Coming Soon: MLC School Senior Production – The Great Gatsby

Rehearsals for the Senior Production ‘The Great Gatsby’ in collaboration with Newington College are well underway with select students from Year 10 – Year 12 working on Monday afternoons and Sundays to bring the wonder of West Egg and 1920’s New York City to life. Actors will be joined by the Year 11 Entertainment Students who will act as the crew for the show, tackling elements such as sound, lighting, costume and set movement to bring audience into the lives and world of iconic characters such as Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson (pictured below).

The DDE Department are so impressed with the hard work, dedication and passion of all those involved in this marvellous show.

The Senior Production will be performed in Term 2 Week 6, from Tuesday 3 June and Thursday 5 June – Saturday 7 June 2025. Tickets will be available to purchase next term.

– Kellie Cogin
Director

Click on gallery to view full images

The Wonderful Wizard of OZ – April Holiday Production Enrolling now

The Wonderful Wizard of OZ – April Holiday Production Enrolling now

We are excited to announce our April holiday production: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Students gain confidence and have lots of fun as they are taken through a rehearsal process including acting, singing, movement and dance to produce a production in five days. Students experience what it is like to be a part of a production team whether it be on or off the stage from start to finish. At the end of the five days students perform the production to family and friends.

An enormous increase in confidence and performance skills can be seen throughout the week. The productions provide a wonderful opportunity for students to form friendships with students in different year levels and allow every student to feel like a star!

The Holiday productions are open to external students as well.

Book early as limited spots are available.

Click here to enrol

APRIL Holiday Production 

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

  • Dates:   Monday 14 April – Thursday 17 April  (4 days)
  • Time:    9am – 3pm
  • Venue:  MLC School Drama Theatre
  • CAST:   Kindergarten – Year 6  $460
  • CREW: Year 7 – Year 12  $370

For enquiries contact The Speech and Drama Studio

Monica Brian
Speech and Drama Studio Director

Speech and Drama Studio Term 1 Update

Speech and Drama Studio Term 1 Update

All speech and drama programs conclude this week (with the exception of Pre-Kindergarten to Year 2 group classes which run until the end of Term). As our programs run on eight week terms and this term is a long one with 11 weeks it may feel earlier than usual as Term 2 and Term 3 are only nine weeks.

It has been a fabulous term, filled with creative endeavours and oratory feats, and we are confident that the remainder of the year, will be just as brilliant.

We have witnessed outstanding improvisations and superb impromptu speeches, and we are immensely proud of all our students. You have all stepped up, taken risks, pushed beyond your comfort zones, and allowed your creativity to shine. Your ideas have been clever, your arguments incisive, and, most importantly, you have been absolutely mesmerising (which is the goal).

We shall continue to build on that in the coming terms. We shall refine our skills, polish our techniques, and eliminate weaknesses or limiting qualities, such as verbal fillers and fidgeting. We shall sharpen our strengths and uncover our unique voice. We shall keep honing our craft and showcasing our distinctive strengths on stage as speakers or performers.

Inner West Eisteddfod Update

We are thrilled to have so many students entering the Inner West eisteddfod this year. Invoices are being sent over the next 2 days to those enrolling and payment is due by this Friday 28 March. Invoices will be emailed via SQUARE, our payment site, so please look out for it and check you junk folder. We will be doing a school group entry this year to make it easier for parents and carers and avoid errors with entering the incorrect sections. The invoice from us will reflect the correct section/s your child is entering. Entries into all other eisteddfods including Ryde and Sydney need to be entered directly by the parent/carer. Please note the Parramatta eisteddfod closing date has now passed. 

 We are looking forward to an exciting eisteddfod season next term.

Term 2 Enrolment

Student enrolment is automatically rolled over each term unless notified otherwise. As per the notices in the newsletter and MLC School App, the deadline to notify of a withdrawal for Term 2 was Friday 14 March, otherwise a full term’s fee will be charged. Existing students are not required to complete another enrolment form, but you do need to make the Term 2 fee payment.

The Term 2 payment link will be emailed to parents on Monday.

Speech and drama programs commence in Week 1 of Term 2, Tuesday 29 April 2025.

ASCA EXCELLENCE AWARDS

The ASCA Excellence Awards are a prestigious recognition of outstanding achievements in speech, communication, and performance. It celebrates students who have demonstrated exceptional growth, confidence, and skill throughout their journey with ASCA. We are immensely proud of all of our students for their dedication, hard work and enthusiasm in Speech and Drama. Every student is deserving of an award, however only a small number of students can be selected each year and are also recommended by the ASCA Examiner.

The Award winners will be presented with their medal and certificate at the ASCA Awards Ceremony held this Saturday 29th March at Ravenswood School for Girls.

Centre Medals:

  • Senior – Ella Baker (Year 12) and Nitya Nimalan (Year 12) and Tasha Keeann Wong (Yer 12)
  • Junior Annika Bou (Year 6) and Eloise Dastyari (Year 6)

Studio Medals:

  • Senior – Abira Sanan (Year 7)
  • Junior – EveHutchison (Year 6) and Sienna Dib (Year 6) 

Achievement Medals :

  • Junior – Natasha McGuire (Year 4) and Sonia Chung (Year 4)

A huge congratulations to our Year 12 students who completed their ASCA Certificate of Communication and final exam of their ASCA journey.  Each student achieved exceptional results all over 90% with one student  achieving an outstanding 99.5% and another 99%. These well-deserved results are a testament to the hard work and dedication demonstrated by our students over many years.

The Australian Speech Communication Association (ASCA) is an internationally recognized National Examining Board offering exams in performance and communication. Upon completing ASCA Grades 6-8, students can earn the prestigious ASCA Certificate of Communication, allowing them to use the professional title  Cert.Comm ASCA after their name.

This certificate serves as a professional qualification, showcasing advanced oral communication skills. It is particularly beneficial for school leavers, professionals in business, lecturers, public speakers, and individuals in other professional fields. Additionally, it offers an advantage for university applications, as it can contribute extra ATAR points through the Elite Athletes and Performers scheme at selected universities.

This year we have several students sitting the ASCA certificate of Communication and Seven Year 11 students completing their Trinity College of London ATCL Diploma, which is also a professional qualification. We have included more information about the exams below.

Exams will be in Term 3 and Term 4 this year for speech and drama students from Year 3 upwards.

ACSA And Trinity 2024 Exam Certficates

We are waiting on confirmation of Assembly dates to present the 2024 exam certificates. Thank you for your patience.

– Monica Brian
The Speech and Drama Studio Director

Click on gallery to view full images