From the Head of Junior School

National Reconciliation Week
This week, our nation celebrates National Reconciliation. This year’s theme is All In. MLC School has participated in various ways, including a Kindergarten to Year 5 assembly last week. Our Junior School Art Teacher, Marian Doull, has also been working with students following a recent visit by local Aboriginal elder Uncle Jimmy, who taught us about pre-European cartography. More information and photos can be seen by clicking here.
National Simultaneous Storytime
On Wednesday this week, schools, learning centres and libraries celebrated the 2026 National Simultaneous Storytime. We all shared reading the same picture book, Luna Roo: The Kangaroo Baller by Adam Jackson and Adrian Lloyd, illustrated by Jake A. Minton. Thanks to our Junior School Teacher-Librarian for leading this loved literacy event.
Arriving Ready to Learn
A calm and settled start to the day makes a meaningful difference to learning. Each girl needs to arrive before learning commences so she has time to connect with peers, be organised and transition smoothly to commence her learning. We know when students feel settled, they are better able to focus, participate and make the most of learning time.
Research consistently highlights the importance of strong beginnings to the school day. Predictable routines and reduced morning stress support students’ attention, emotional regulation and readiness to learn, particularly in the primary years.
Arriving late to school is not only unsettling for the child, but it also results in a loss of key learning time. The class roll is marked immediately at the beginning of the lesson; 8.15am for Year 6, 8.30am for Kindergarten to Year 5, and 9am for Pre-Kindergarten. The data below shows the learning time lost when arriving ‘only a few minutes’ late.
| Time missed arriving late | Total lost time for one week | Total lost time for a Term (10 weeks) | Total lost time for the school year | Equivalent school time lost |
| 5 minutes | 25 minutes | 4 hours, 10 minutes | 15 hours, 50 minutes | 2-3 school days |
| 10 minutes | 50 minutes | 8 hours, 20 minutes | 31 hours, 40 minutes | 5-6 school days |
We understand there are rare occasions beyond parents’ control that result in arriving late for school. For most school days though, thank you for supporting your child to arrive promptly so she may start with confidence and maximise her learning potential.
Robocup Workshop
Students from our Junior and Senior Competition Robotics teams attended the first Student Workshop for the year. Click here for the full story.
Parents visiting our School
Thank you to our parents who attended our Year 1 assembly this week. I look forward to seeing our Mooramoora and Prescott families at their respective Chapel Services this Sunday. Just a reminder, there are a few opportunities for parents to join us at school next week:
Tuesday 2 June 2026, 8.30am
I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming Coffee with the Principal and Head of Junior School
Wednesday 3 June 2026, from 8am
The MLC School Advantage in Wellbeing: Tween to Teen Year 4 Parent Workshop and Year 4 Celebration of Learning
Wednesday 3 June 2026, at 8.30am
Pre-Kindergarten Book Picnic
Thursday 4 June 2026, from 8am
The MLC School Advantage: Strengthening Positive Online Behaviour Year 5 Parent Workshop and Year 5 Celebration of Learning
Friday 5 June 2026, at 2.30pm
Kindergarten Book Picnic
– Daniel Sandral
Head of Junior School
It has been another full and productive week in the Senior School. Our Year 11 and Year 12 students had the opportunity to attend the HSC and Careers Expo on Thursday at Randwick Racecourse. If you are interested in attending with your daughter, the Expo continues tomorrow, see the details here:
This week, we marked National Reconciliation Week (NRW) during our Chapel services. As part of the celebrations, our Indigenous Dance group performed a series of Wiradjuri dances that they have been learning with Aunty Rayma Johnson. The NRW 2026 theme, All In, calls on all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every day. The students’ performance reflected this theme in action, sharing culture with the community and inviting us all to engage, learn and understand more deeply. It reminds us that reconciliation is not a passive process; rather, it requires active participation and a shared commitment to respect and positive change.
This week Year 8 were excited to have Jack Rudd, Adventure and Immersions Coordinator, come to speak to them about the upcoming Year 8 Immersion experience. The information, including permission forms, packing lists, medical, dietary and code of conduct forms have all been sent out via the MLC School app for parents to sign and approve. The students will spend two nights in Mudgee and have two days of Indigenous immersion experiences here in Sydney. Year 8 are starting to get very excited and we are already looking forward to Term 3 Week 3!

Another busy week for Year 10 with a focus on Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) and Language assessments. The girls supported each other and played more games in the House soccer competition, whenever we could find a break in the rain.
This week has been very much about looking ahead for Year 11, with a strong focus on future pathways and opportunities.
Congratulations to Genevieve Beattie, Sienna Christodoulou, Crystal Huang, Siena Jury, Ava Roins and Carina Savoca on their win as members of the CIS Football team. The girls were impressive in their 5–2 victory over All Saints Grammar Belmore on Monday.
National Reconciliation Week – 27 May to 3 June
All families should receive a mailed copy of Lucis magazine shortly.
Our Girls Lead Us in Reconciliation: A Sacred Performance of Story and Culture

