From the Principal
This week’s announcement of my intention to retire at the end of next year has prompted me to reflect on the changes I have seen during my career in education and school leadership. While much remains the same and I continue to value the opportunity to work each day with remarkable young people and committed teachers, one of the most significant changes, and challenges, for schools and families has been the growing number of children and adolescents experiencing mental ill-health. In particular, I have observed a rise in anxiety and the impact it can have on student agency and wellbeing.
Earlier this week, the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH)* highlighted this issue. They also reported that there is emerging evidence that the approaches traditionally recommended to assist anxious students may be contributing to the issue. It is tempting to simply let a child ‘sit it out’ and not attend camp or take to the stage with her peers, but by excusing her involvement we make it even harder next time a challenge arises.
While the SMH report draws from research undertaken by the Australian Primary Principals Association, in recent years, similar findings have been reported by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Burnet Institute.
So, if withdrawing children from anxiety producing situations is not the answer, how do we help them?
‘We’ve got to expose [children] to an acceptable level of risk,’ said leading psychiatrist and former Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry. ‘That will strengthen them.’
MLC School has long championed the importance of ‘Daring to Be More,’ and it is no coincidence that ‘growth’ is one of our Core Values. From our earliest days, the School’s leaders have encouraged girls to step beyond their comfort zones across a wide range of pursuits. While the research evidence may not have been as well established in earlier years, it is clear that our leaders have consistently viewed thoughtful risk-taking as an essential part of education.
One of the best practical examples of our approach is seen every year at Year 7 camp where abseiling is on offer. Understandably, each girl has a different level of exposure and confidence in her ability to descend the rock face. There are those who jump into the harness without a second thought while for others, their achievement is to simply put on the harness and wear it for a short time. Next time they might put on the harness and look over the ledge and stop there. Although taking small steps each time, successfully overcoming each challenge builds confidence when the next challenge arises.
As we prepare for upcoming camps and a range of opportunities for students to embrace challenge, you will hear staff talking about the importance of supporting our students to embrace these new experiences. Please know that our approach is considered and informed. With your support we can assist your daughter to build her confidence and reduce the long-term impact of any anxiety that she might be experiencing.
Burwood ANZAC March and Day Dawn service.
All the very best to our Cadets and Musicians who will be taking a lead role at tomorrow’s Burwood ANZAC Day March and Dawn Service.
We are very proud that our Cadets will not only take their place in the community parade but also form the Catafalque Party while our Musicians will lead the National Anthem and Hymns.
Thank you to Captain Xavier Maling, Officer Commanding MLCSACU, Trevor Mee, Director of Music, and all Cadet and Music staff for their involvement in providing this opportunity for our students and enabling our School’s contribution to this important local community event.
All parents and community members are invited to attend the service to be held in Burwood Park starting at 6am.
I look forward to seeing all our community at next Friday’s birthday celebration.
Back to College Day – 140th Birthday Celebrations
Friday 1 May 2026
10am–2pm
It’s MLC School’s 140th Birthday! Join us for a day filled with celebration, reflection, and shared memories. All parents, former parents, former staff, Boarders and Old Girls are welcome.
10am–11am
140 Years Chapel Service and Morning Tea
11am–12pm
140 Years Assembly including: Cadets Parade, Former Uniforms Fashion Parade; Cake Cutting; Musical Performance
12pm–1.45pm
Celebrating 140 Years Picnic Lunch for the Junior School students and families. Bring a picnic lunch and blanket to share
– Lisa Moloney
Principal
*Source: smh.com.au/politics/nsw/skipping-camp-public-speaking-how-schools-have-it-wrong-on-kids-anxiety
The Music Department invites students and families to submit musical achievements from 2026 using our new Music Achievement Submission Portal.
It was a delight to welcome all our girls back in their winter uniforms for an exciting Term 2. Their faces were beaming as they walked along the red carpet at the Junior School campus or into the Year 6 Centre. I often remind the girls that school is ‘their job’ – a place where we give our very best in all that we do. Indeed, the girls began their work straight away.
Parents and carers are warmly invited to attend the book launch of Belong. Author and illustrator team, Sharon and Freya, will talk about their inspiration for this picture book. Copies will be available to purchase from the publisher, 
What a great start to Term we have had! Congratulations to all the girls for their participation in the House Swimming Carnival this week. There were so many highlights! Here are my top seven.
The end of the holidays, and the start of a new term, can always be daunting and bring a few challenges. New routines, fewer sleep-ins, less time for ourselves, and so on. However, our Year 7 students seem to have faced this transition with the best attitude possible!
I would like to warmly welcome all families back for Term 2 and hope everyone had a refreshing break. The term has begun with great energy and enthusiasm across the cohort. The Senior School House Swimming Carnival was a fantastic highlight of Week 1 with great attendance and participation from Year 8. I particularly enjoyed the face paint and sparkles, and the spirit shown in the pool and from the sidelines was wonderful. I’d like to congratulate all Year 8 students on their positive engagement and House pride.
Welcome to Term 2. I hope you and your family enjoyed a restful break and some valuable time together. With Urban Challenge and Cadet Camp held right at the end of last term, many of the girls finished the term understandably exhausted and very much in need of the holidays. It has been lovely to see them return refreshed and ready for the term ahead.
Year 12 students began Term 2 with a strong sense of community, high energy and pure joy. On Tuesday, following the Senior School Assembly, Year 12 were presented with their Year 12 Jerseys, marking a special milestone for the cohort. The cohort were thrilled (there were squeals of delight!) to be handed their jerseys by our Kindergarten and Year 1 students, and we thank them all for being a part of this wonderful experience. A massive thank you to Lily Clemens and Sasha Murray for their wonderful organisation of the special commemorative jerseys – a mammoth and much appreciated effort! 
During the holidays I completed the Deputy Chief of Army Adventure Training Award (DCA ATA) in Tasmania alongside other cadets from all over Australia. The DCA ATA was one of the most challenging yet memorable experiences. Although the weather was unforgiving with single digits throughout the whole 72 hours, it pushed us physically and mentally, giving that extra 10% or that extra 20% of effort. Although the DCA ATA is an individual achievement, all cadets that participated would agree that teamwork was the key skill that made us all individually stronger and pushed ourselves to be the best.
Over the recent holidays, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the 
