From the Principal

In a world shaped by Artificial Intelligence (AI), knowledge alone is no longer enough. It is increasingly important for students to speak with influence because, while AI can help generate information, organise ideas and produce polished text, it cannot replace the distinctly human capacities of judgment, discernment, ethical reasoning, empathy, presence, and authentic voice.

Students need to be able to question what they read, test the strength of an argument, listen carefully to others, and communicate their own thinking with clarity, confidence, and integrity. Whether through debating, philosophy, public speaking, performance, or classroom discussion, learning to speak with influence teaches young people how to shape ideas, respond thoughtfully in the moment, and contribute meaningfully to the communities and conversations that matter.

MLC School has long had a reputation for excellence in debating and public speaking. This week we are enormously proud to celebrate our outstanding Debaters, who have won the IGSA Archdale Debating Shield for the fourth consecutive year.

The Archdale Debating Shield is one of the major debating competitions run by the Independent Girls’ Schools Association (IGSA) in New South Wales. It involves students from leading independent girls’ schools competing across different year levels in structured debates throughout the season and is strongly contested. This year, five MLC School teams qualified for the Grand Final and 4 of those teams were victorious on the night.

This remarkable achievement reflects not only the strength of debating at MLC School, but also the intellect, discipline, teamwork, and courage of our students. To sustain this level of excellence across four years is extraordinary and speaks to the depth of talent within the program, the dedication of our coaches and staff, and the students’ capacity to think critically, listen carefully, argue persuasively, and respond with agility under pressure. Congratulations to Oratory Coordinator, Andrea Rowe and her team of coaches and every student who has contributed to this success. Along with our achievements in other debating and oratory competitions, this win confirms the formidable reputation of our oratory program. and celebrates the place of debating as a powerful expression of learning, confidence, and voice at MLC School. 

Also demonstrating their ability to reason and communicate were the eight Year 9 and Year 10 students who recently represented MLC School at the Sydney Philosothon, engaging in thought-provoking discussions with students from across Sydney on a range of complex philosophical questions and ideas. Rather than debating to “win” an argument, students are assessed on the quality of their thinking: how carefully they listen, how clearly they reason, how respectfully they build on others’ ideas, and how thoughtfully they explore complex ethical, social, and philosophical questions.

After finishing in the top three at the Sydney competition, the team qualified for the National Philosothon, where they went on to achieve an impressive second place in the Junior Division. Congratulations to the team and to High Potential Learning Leader James Adams for introducing this opportunity for our young philosophers and preparing them for the competition.

– Lisa Moloney
Principal

Supporting our students during challenging times – New Dare to Be More Podcast Now Live

Challenging times can look different for every student, from friendship issues and school stress to anxiety, overwhelm or more complex wellbeing concerns.  

In this episode of Dare to Be More, Anthony Perl speaks with Anna Michalopoulos, Head of Counselling and Student Health Services at MLC School, about how students are supported when they are navigating difficult moments. 

From encouraging girls to ask for help, to working closely with families, teachers and external professionals, Anna shares how MLC School provides thoughtful, age-appropriate support to help students feel heard, cared for and understood. 

Listen on the link below.

Stay connected and join the conversation as we continue to celebrate the opportunities that empower every MLC School student to Dare to Be More.

Listen here now on Spotify, or search MLC School Dare to Be More on your favourite podcast platform. 

From the Deputy Principal

Talking with our children about respect, consent and what they see online

Over the past few weeks, many of us have been unsettled by the volume of media coverage about alleged sexual assaults involving young people. Most recently, the tragic death of a Sydney teenager following a suspected act of sexual choking has brought these issues into even sharper focus.

These stories are confronting. They raise hard questions about consent, relationships, pressure, pornography and the messages young people are receiving about sex. While every case is different, they remind us of something important: our children need trusted adults helping them make sense of what they see online and hear from peers.

As parents and educators, we cannot afford to leave these conversations until adolescence or wait for a problem to arise. The most effective protection is often the simplest: open, honest conversations at home, supported by consistent messages at school.

What we learnt at RespectED

At last year’s RespectED: Navigating Respectful Relationships parent forum, held on Thursday 29 May, our amazing panellists Katrina Marson, Yasmin London, David Kobler and Cass deNardis came back to one clear message: start early. Children learn about consent long before adolescence. They learn it when we teach them that their body belongs to them, that they can say no, that others can say no too, and that respect means listening the first time.

Parents do not need to have all the answers. If your child tells you something difficult, a good first response is, “Thank you for telling me.” Then, “How can I support you?” Calm, curious adults make it much easier for young people to ask for help.

We also spoke about helping young people notice green flags and red flags in relationships. Do they feel safe, respected and supported? Or do they feel anxious, controlled, diminished or afraid? Simple language like this can help them name what is happening before a situation escalates.

Perhaps the strongest reminder from the night was this: do not let the internet become your child’s main teacher about sex and relationships. Your voice does not need to be perfect. It just needs to be present.

Why conversations at home matter

We need to be plain about pornography because many young people will encounter it, whether deliberately or by accident. It is often unrealistic, aggressive and disconnected from care, respect or real intimacy. It is not sex education, but without better conversations, it can become a powerful teacher.

This does not mean one big, awkward talk. It means many small conversations over time: in the car, on a walk, after something in the news, or when a question comes up at an inconvenient moment. We can say, “I’m glad you asked,” and answer honestly, in a way that suits their age and stage.

For younger children, this starts with body autonomy, privacy and the right to say no. For older students, it needs to include consent, pressure, image-sharing, alcohol, online content and the law. We want our young people to understand that consent is active, ongoing and freely given.

We also need to be clear that choking or strangulation is dangerous and can be fatal. It is not made safe because it appears online or is spoken about casually. Young people need adults to give them clear language about risk, boundaries and help-seeking.

How this connects to PDHPE and Wellbeing at MLC School

This work is also part of school learning. In NSW, child protection and respectful relationships education is taught through PDHPE from Kindergarten to Year 10. The updated 7–10 syllabus, to be implemented in 2027, strengthens learning about consent, safety, respectful relationships and online environments.

At MLC School, these messages are reinforced through our K–12 Wellbeing and PDHPE programs in age-appropriate ways. Students learn about boundaries, help-seeking, healthy relationships, online safety and respect. Earlier this year, Kindergarten learnt about body autonomy and in Year 5 PDHPE, we are currently helping students talk about puberty and change with confidence and without shame.

School programs matter, but these lessons are strongest when they are also talked about at home. If there is one takeaway from both the recent headlines and our RespectED parent forum, it is this: start the conversation. You do not need a perfect script. What matters most is that your child knows they can come to you with questions, worries or mistakes and be met with calm, care and support.

Practical resources for parents and carers

These resources may help you begin or continue the conversation at home:

• Your Choicez parent resources: practical resources from RespectED panellist David Kobler.

• Yasmin London: resources and commentary on respectful relationships, online safety, AI and digital resilience. 

• Katrina Marson: resources and writing on relationships and sexuality education. https://katrinamarson.com/

And additional online resources:

• eSafety Commissioner: “The hard-to-have conversations” practical advice for talking with children and young people about pornography, nudes, consent and respectful relationships. 

• eSafety Commissioner parent resources, downloadable resources, videos and advice sheets on online safety, sexual harassment, image-based abuse and harmful online content. 

• gov.au resource hub. Australian Government resources to help adults and young people talk about consent. https://www.consent.gov.au/resources/resource-hub

• headspace: Talking to your young person about sexual consent: guidance for parents and carers about consent, communication and support.

• headspace: Pornography and young people: a guide for family members supporting conversations about pornography and young people’s wellbeing.

– Melissa Boyd
Deputy Principal

Debating Team Secures Archdale Shield for 2026

On Tuesday night, MLC School hosted the Grand Finals of the Archdale All Girls School Debating Competition. Having won in 2025, it was our turn to host again this year. The debating season began in early May, featuring seven preliminary rounds. We entered eight teams in the Shield competition and two teams in the Invitational section. Over the past four months, our debaters trained and competed weekly, showing remarkable dedication.

This competition awards three points for a win and one point for a loss, and the total points determine which teams advance to the finals. Seven teams made it to the Quarter Finals, with five moving on to the Semi Finals. During the Semis, topics are selected, and panels of three adjudicators judge each debate. This year, four Shield teams and one Invitational team from MLC School qualified for the Grand Finals.

All ten debates took place simultaneously, with adjudicator panels deciding divisional winners. MLC School entered the evening one point ahead of Monte and two points ahead of Kambala, who were our closest rivals for the overall shield. As both schools had teams in the Grand Finals, the awarding of extra points for division wins meant the overall winner was not clear until all debates were finished, making for an exciting and nerve-wracking night.

Thanks to strong performances, MLC School emerged as the clear winner for 2026. Our youngest debaters, the 7B team (Aashani Chandramohan, Caitlyn Rodrigues, Molly Xu, Mariella Tsolis, Alice Zhou), confidently defeated Tara to win their division shield.

The 8B team (Abira Sanan, Katie Zhang, Ashwini Kanesalingam, Elsa Liu, Sahana Ramesh) delivered a solid performance against Kambala to secure their division. The Year 9 team (Joumana Reehman, Aditi Knowles, Audrey Buck, Lauren Liu, Jenny Chen), known for their commitment, narrowly lost to Monte.

The Senior Invitational team, all from Year 11 (Rebecca Ho-Bui (Year 11), Yerina Kang (Year 11), Riya Singh (Year 11), Lindsay Zeng (Year 11), Pip McGuire (Year 10) ) remained undefeated throughout their competition, winning their Grand Final against Pymble decisively.

The Senior team (Joanne Chen (Year 11), Meena Kanthathas (Year 11), Stephanie Keo (Year 11), Alana Mellare (Year 11), Veronica Pan (Year 10) ), who have debated together for years, overcame previous close defeats and powered through the preliminary and final rounds to claim victory against Brigidine in a hard-fought Grand Final.

Special mention goes to the Year 11 Senior debaters, who, despite exam commitments, trained, competed, and won both senior divisions on Tuesday night, demonstrating true dedication.

With four wins out of five Grand Final debates, it was evident that MLC School ranked first among 23 competing schools. This achievement is a testament to the efforts of all 60 Archdale debaters and their six coaches over the past four months. Winning again this year was unexpected, making the recognition of our hard work particularly gratifying. 

Click on gallery to view full images 

– Andrea Rowe
Oratory Coordinator

Senior Wakakirri Team Progress to Awards Night

MLC School Dance Showcase 2026 | Tickets Selling Fast

P&F Forum with Michelle Mitchell – Friendship Smart: Last chance to book!

Wednesday 2 September 2026
6pm – 7.30pm
The Daphne Line Hall 

The MLC School Parents and Friends Association (P&F) presents a P&F Forum with Michelle Mitchell – ‘Friendship Smart’.

Michelle Mitchell is one of one of Australia’s most trusted voices in parenting, sought after for her depth of experience, and compassionate, field-tested parenting advice. She is also a bestselling author who has worked with families, schools and young people for over 30 years. Her presentations combine research, real-world experience and deeply relatable communication that leaves audiences feeling informed, encouraged and empowered. 

In this very special eventing, Michelle will unpack her innovative Friendship Smart Framework and give you a new way to talk to your kids and teens about friendships. This is not surface-level friendship advice. It’s a fresh, research-informed framework built from over 30 years of working closely with young people that helps kids understand how friendships actually work and what they need to navigate them well. 

You will walk away with: 
✔️ The Friendship Smart Framework – the blueprint for every meaningful relationship your kid will ever have  
✔️ 12 Friendship Smart Shapes – a tool that will open conversations and empower decisions 
✔️ The importance of reciprocity and why this skill matters more than ever in today’s culture  
✔️ Practical tools to help navigate friendship changes and transitions with more confidence  
✔️ Script and language to help kids respond to drama and bullying with confidence  
✔️ A broader understanding of how technology, loneliness, and modern pressures are shaping friendships 

Get ready for a powerful, practical session that will change the way you understand and support your tween and teen’s friendships.  

This event is recommended for parents with children aged 8+.  All MLC School parents must book, and present their ticket at the door. Please use the promotion code “MLC” when purchasing your ticket to reduce the ticket price to $0 (free).

Book via the link below.

Book tickets here

Your friends and guests are able to attend – there is a charge for those tickets.

Father’s Day Breakfast

Friday 4 September 2026
7.15am–8.15am
Bird Bath Quad

All students Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 are invited to attend the Father’s Day Breakfast. 
The breakfast is open to all to celebrate dads, carers, step dads, uncles, grandfathers and father figures in the lives of our students.
Please RSVP for catering purposes.

RSVP HERE
 

Year 12 2027 Book Lists Now Available

The 2027 Year 12 Book List is now available for online ordering.

Please use the following direct link to the Campion website:
https://campion.com.au/

School Code: H3RD

To ensure timely delivery, we recommend placing orders promptly by Friday 18 September 2026. Please note that while orders can still be placed after this deadline, delivery before the start of Term 4 cannot be guaranteed.

If you have any questions about the Book List, please kindly contact the relevant subject Head of Department.

For any issues with ordering online, please kindly contact Campion directly. Book Lists are also available via Omnia.

Please click on the relevant button below. A ‘how to order’ instruction is also provided below:

Year 12 2027 HSC Book List

Year 12 2027 IB Book List

Campion How To Order Books

Chaplains Corner

Welcoming Ballantine Memorial High School from Fiji

On Tuesday 25 August, MLC School warmly welcomed 21 students and eight teachers from Ballantine Memorial High School in Suva, Fiji, as part of their two-week immersion and cultural tour in Australia. It was a joy to host our visitors and to share something of the life, learning, and spirit of our school community.

Ballantine Memorial High School shares much in common with MLC School. Like us, it is an all-girls school, and it is also grounded in the Wesleyan tradition as a Methodist Church school in Fiji. This shared heritage provided a meaningful connection between our schools and reminded us of the strength of education shaped by faith, service, community, and care for others.

During their visit, the group toured the College and joined us for our weekly worship service in the gym. The highlight of the gathering was sharing in the reflection on Jesus’ Parable of the Lost Coin from Luke 15:8–10. The message reminded us that every person is precious to God, that no one is invisible, and that we are called to notice, welcome, include, and celebrate one another.

This message was especially fitting as we welcomed guests from another girls’ school in the Pacific whose story, values, and faith tradition resonate with our own. In worship, we were reminded that Christian community extends beyond borders, and that the bonds of faith and sisterhood can help us recognise the value and dignity of every person.

Our visitors were especially impressed by the five Year 12 girls who served as tour guides, warmly and confidently sharing the life of MLC School with grace and hospitality. In turn, our girls deeply appreciated the beautiful singing offered by the Fijian students, which brought joy, cultural richness, and a special sense of connection to our gathering.

We give thanks for the opportunity to meet the students and staff of Ballantine Memorial High School and pray that their time in Australia will continue to be rich with learning, friendship, and cultural exchange. We hope their visit to MLC School was a warm and memorable part of their journey.

– Rev. Viniana Ravetali
Senior Chaplain

From Learning Enhancement Department

A group of MLC School teachers joined colleagues from across Kindergarten to Year 12 to participate in Mini-COGE (Certificate of Gifted Education) professional learning at University of New South Wales. Staff members from a range of year groups and learning areas applied for and were selected to take part, reflecting our shared commitment to nurturing the potential of every learner.

One of the strengths of the MLC School community is our culture of continuous learning. When teachers come together to explore current research and effective practice, the benefits extend far beyond the classroom. Professional learning such as Mini-COGE provides opportunities for staff to connect, exchange ideas, and deepen their understanding of how best to support students to thrive, pursue their passions, and embrace challenge.

We are proud of our staff’s enthusiasm for learning and grateful for the collaborative spirit that continues to strengthen our community. As teachers bring new insights back to MLC School, we look forward to seeing these conversations enrich learning experiences for students across the school.

Click on gallery to view full images

Study Hub+

Term 3 2026 Study Hub+  – Fill in form

Study Hub+ is MLC School’s structured, pay‑per‑use after‑school study support program, designed for students in Year 7 to Year 12 who would benefit from more personalised academic guidance in a focused and supportive environment.

While the Study Hub provides a supervised space for independent study for Year 11 and Year 12, Study Hub+ offers a higher level of individualised, responsive support. Sessions are student‑led, allowing mentors to tailor assistance based on each student’s specific needs on the day. This may include consolidating class learning, clarifying assessment requirements, preparing for examinations, or developing effective and sustainable study routines.

Led by Program Coordinator Ela Huber, Study Hub+ is supported by a team of knowledgeable mentors, all of whom are pre‑service teachers or working towards a career in education. Most mentors are in the final stages of their undergraduate or Master of Teaching degrees and bring with them a strong depth of subject knowledge, alongside up‑to‑date, innovative and curriculum‑aligned resources. This ensures students receive guidance that is relevant and closely aligned with classroom expectations.

A key strength of Study Hub+ is the opportunity for students to work alongside a mentor, particularly when engaging with written tasks. Mentors can read through work with students, ask guiding questions, suggest improvements to structure, clarity and expression, and help students refine their ideas and arguments. While mentors are unable to mark work or provide grades, they can offer valuable feedback and editing support prior to submission, helping students better understand how to improve their work independently.

Mentors can support students with:

• Revising and consolidating key concepts and class content
• Examination preparation and revision strategies
• Planning and organising assessments and study schedules
• Reading through drafts alongside students and suggesting edits or refinements
• Developing confidence, independence and effective study habits

Study Hub+ also plays an important role in supporting students in an era where AI is a valuable and encouraged tool at MLC School, but one that requires thoughtful, ethical and informed use. Students can sometimes over‑rely on AI when completing homework and assessments, which may leave them unsure about underlying concepts, task expectations or how to improve their own work.

At Study Hub+, mentors help reinforce the appropriate and ethical use of AI by guiding students to use these tools as a support for learning rather than a replacement for thinking. Mentors work with students to unpack questions, clarify concepts, check understanding and refine ideas, ensuring students remain actively engaged in their learning and confident in the work they submit.

Program Overview

• Schedule: Monday to Thursday, 3.30pm–6pm (term time)
• Location: Level 1, Senior Centre
• Cost: $25 per session (2.5 hours) and charged to your daughter’s account at the end of term
• Environment: Phone‑free zone to minimise distractions and promote positive study habits
• Staffing: A minimum of two mentors per session, rotating to provide a range of subject expertise

Families are encouraged to register on a termly basis to support the development of consistent study routines, although weekly bookings remain available via Omnia and Audacia, the School e-newsletter. Students will receive a reminder email at approximately 2pm on their scheduled day confirming their session and assigned room.

Cancellation Policy

If your daughter is unable to attend a scheduled session, please provide at least 24 hours’ notice to avoid being charged. In cases of illness where your daughter is absent from school, families will not be charged.

For further information, please contact Ela Huber, Program Coordinator.

Term 3 2026 Study Hub+  – Fill in form

*Photo Credit, Unsplash

Study 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+ – please click here to read further and to access the nomination form.

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.

– Joanna Graffen
Head of Senior School

*Photo Credit, Unsplash

From the Head of Junior School

Click on gallery to view full images

Invitation to High Potential Learning Showcase – Term 3 Event 

Parents and students from Kindergarten to Year 12 are warmly invited to attend the High Potential Learning Showcase that will be held on Monday 7 September. Please refer to this article for more information.

From the Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations: Year 6

Message for Year 6 Parents and Carers

As part of our ongoing commitment to improving learning and teaching opportunities for students, MLC School engages Academic Assessment Services to conduct a series of diagnostic assessment tasks as students progress through their schooling. This type of assessment usually occurs when students are in Year 4, Year 6, Year 8 and Year 10.

Students who are currently in Year 6 will complete the assessments on Wednesday 2 September 2026. The assessments are designed for Year 6 students and are of suitable duration and structure. The only equipment required is a black or blue pen (and maybe a spare).

Please note that there is no additional cost to you for this assessment service.

The assessments will measure current levels of achievement and ability in Mathematics, Reading, Comprehension, Spelling, Written Expression, and Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. From Year 6, performance in each test also measures learning growth over a two-year period.

Analysed in conjunction with other assessment data, the results are a valuable resource for us in preparing teaching strategies and materials, and in gaining more information about how students are progressing with their learning and how we can support them into the future.

Your daughter does not need to prepare for the tests. The best wat to support her is by ensuring she arrives to school on time, relaxed and refreshed after a good night’s sleep.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

– Natalie Hird
Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations

Kindness Convention

As Service Leaders we were privileged to attend the 2026 Kindness Convention on Thursday August 13 at Pymble Ladies College. We had the opportunity  to hear from the amazing author Alice Peel, who has written “How to be a Good Enough Kid”. We learnt many tips and tricks on how to be kind to ourselves, others and the environment, such as certain breathing techniques to calm ourselves down and the effects of kindness on ourselves and others.

After a quick break everyone had the assignment of creating a solution to an existing problem in the world. Our problem was to save all pollinators, so we all worked together to find a solution which was growing our own native Australian stingless bee garden using Native Australian flowers to attract the bees so they can help pollinate our local environment.

At the end we saw every schools’ exhibits and were fascinated by the effort put into every creation and we were very pleased to see the nice comments on our poster.

We are looking forward to putting our plan into action to be kind to our environment and attract native bees.

Click on gallery to view full images

– Colette Myssy and Maya Erazo Djurisic
Year 5 Leaders

Year 6 and Sydney Science Park Panel

Year 12 Psychology students visit Pre-Kindergarten

Following their trial examinations, our Pre-Kindergarten students were delighted to welcome back our Year 12 Psychology students back for a special visit on 19 August and 21 August, accompanied by their teacher Wayne Symes.

Building on their studies of learning theorists and child development, the Year 12 students spent time engaging with our young learners through play, conversation and shared activities. These visits provided a wonderful opportunity for our Pre-Kindergarten students to connect with older students, while allowing the Psychology students to observe firsthand the curiosity, creativity and learning that naturally unfold through play.

It was lovely to see the friendships and connections continue to grow, with plenty of smiles, laughter and meaningful interactions shared across both visits. We are grateful to our Year 12 Psychology students for creating such a warm and engaging experience for our youngest learners.

Click on gallery to view photos

– Gina Zucco
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Kindergarten Celebration of Learning

Thank you to all the families who joined us and helped make the event such a success. Your support and encouragement play an important role in our students’ learning, and we loved celebrating their achievements together.

Click on gallery to view full images

– Brooke Panagopoulos
Kindergarten Teacher

 

Junior School Booralee Fundraiser – The Booralee Book Swap

During Book Week, Junior School students came together to celebrate their love of reading while raising funds for a very special cause. The Booralee Book Swap was a wonderful opportunity for students to share much loved stories, discover new favourites and support the important work of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF).

In the lead up to the event, students generously donated their pre-loved books, creating an incredible collection of stories for the Book Swap. On both Tuesday and Wednesday, there was plenty of excitement as students browsed the tables, searched for the perfect book and shared their discoveries with friends. It was wonderful to see so many books finding new homes and continuing to be enjoyed by another reader.

All funds raised from the Book Swap will be donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, Booralee’s chosen charity. The ILF works alongside remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to provide access to books and literacy resources, while also supporting the creation and publication of stories in First Languages.

The Book Swap was a fantastic way to bring together the spirit of Book Week with Booralee’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. A huge thank you to our Junior School families for their generous donations and to everyone who helped make the event such a success.

It was wonderful to see our students so excited about reading, sharing stories and making a difference through something as simple as passing on a great book!

Click on gallery to view full images

– Samantha Anderson
Booralee House Patron

Library News

Premier’s Reading Challenge February 23 – September 18

Congratulations

Congratulations to these readers who have completed the challenge: 

Year 2

• Carina Cheung
• Nicole Peng
• Avery Wu

Year 3

• Skylar Gu
• Izzette Kennedy

Year 4

• Maryam Refai
• Aisha Ashour
• Jaiyana Habib

 Year 5

• Olivia Chan
• Tarlay Edwards
• Angelina Jiang
• Theia Becker
• Isabel Briers

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

 Book Week Events Symphony of Stories

This week we celebrated Book Week by dressing up as our favourite book character. Photos will be shared on our social media platforms. 

A big thank you to Samantha Anderson, the Booralee team, all the generous families who donated books and our parent helpers for setting up the Book Swap. Our girls were very excited to choose a book! Proceeds go to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

We were very excited to welcome authors Kate and Jol Temple to our Junior School.

Books are still available to be purchased through Larrikin House.

Kate Jol Order Form Book Week

Bookmark Competition

After much deliberation, the winners of the Bookmark Competition have been chosen. These girls will receive a signed copy of a book by our authors.

• Pre-Kindergarten – Michelle Wang
• KT – Angelina Wong
• 1A – Emily Zhang
• 2K – Ashley Giang
• 3W – Yinuo Jin
• 4M – Bella Yao
• 5P – Emily Nie

The standard was so high, I have chosen some Highly Commended designs. These girls will choose a book prize from my Book Prize shelf:

• Pre-Kindergarten – Claire Liu
• Pre-Kindergarten – Viola Chen
• KP – Elmie Tian
• KT – Celine Radwan
• 1A – Naomi Zheng
• 1W – Shreya Nair
• 1A – Adelaide Barnes
• 2R – Sienna Kc
• 2P – Veronica Ao
• 3E – Serene Wong
• 3B – Katherine Huynh
• 4M – Emma Yan
• 4P – Ruby Taor
• 5F – Leila Najdi
• 5F – Avery Lan

The overall winner is Bella Yao, who will have her design printed and used as a Junior School bookmark! Congratulations Bella!

Library Lunchtime Bookmark Competitions

Congratulations to these girls who win a book prize from my Book Prize Shelf:

• 1L – Joelle Goh
• 2P – Carlissa Ma
• 3B – Elsie Chen
• 4M – Lakshmi Bedadam
• 4P – Amelia Lim
• 5F – Olivia Chan 

Premier’s Reading Challenge 25 Year Anniversary Competitions

These two exciting opportunities are being offered by the Premier’s Reading Challenge to celebrate 25 years of reading across NSW schools. Students who choose to enter will be given a resource kit and must submit their entry to me by Tuesday 13 October.

Create Your Own Zookeeper Talk

Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6

You’re the Storyteller Now!

Year 5, Year 6

Congratulations to Esther!

Great readers become great writers. During the school holidays Esther Sim took part in the Inner West Book Week Drawing and Writing Competition. She was a winner in the Year 3 group! Well done!

– Sharon Seymour
Junior School Teacher Librarian

Spring Vacation Care Program

Our Vacation Care program runs in the 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 email elsupport@uniting.org.

View the MLC School OSHC Spring Vacation Care Program 2026 here.

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

From the Head of Senior School

It has been wonderful to see the energy and enthusiasm across the School during STEM and Book Week. The Scholar captaincy team has done a great job. Parents, apologies if you thought that Book Week costumes were behind you – it turns out that the students (and teachers) really love it!

The PDHPE department were the talk of the School as Mrs Claire White and the seven dwarves, and the English department brought their texts to life which the students loved. Our Science department has turned the Senior Centre ground floor into a crime scene; the students were so excited to see a CSI scene all set up for them on arrival.

Looking forward to Week 7, we are excited to welcome Year 6 students from other schools for Experience Day on Tuesday, providing them with an opportunity to connect with our community and gain a sense of life in the Senior School.

In staffing news, Stavroula Koulouris from our Maths department is moving abroad and will leave at the end of term, We thank Stavroula for her valued contribution and wish her every happiness and success in this exciting new chapter. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome her back in the future.

Finally, we warmly invite all dads and father figures to join us for our Father’s Day breakfast on Friday 4 September next week. We also wish all our dancers the very best as they prepare to take to the stage for their Dance Showcase, and we look forward to celebrating their hard work, as it is always a great show.

Click on gallery to view full images

Study Hub Next Week

– Joanna Graffen
Head of Senior School

Science Week 2026: Planting the Seeds of Scientific Discovery

This week we celebrated National Science Week 2026 with this year’s theme, Seeds of Science: Nurturing Knowledge for All. To celebrate, I organised an MLC School STEM week, full of exciting hands-on activities and events to spark curiosity, encourage scientific thinking and inspire students to explore the world of science.

Australian Science Teachers Association Website

Our highlight event was the 2026 STEM Diorama Competition! Students in Year 7 to Year 9 were invited to research a famous scientist and bring their story and scientific findings to life by creating their own creative dioramas.

Monday: We had a range of hands-on experiment workshops, including the chance to;

Grow your own Crystal Garden using metal salt crystals placed in a sodium silicate solution to form tubular, plant-like structures.

Students also had the opportunity to explore the microscopic world using microscopes, as well as dissect and examine whole seeds to investigate their structure and better understand the different parts involved in plant growth.

We germinated seeds in Petri dishes to observe how the roots and stems respond to different environmental factors such as gravity through tropism. Using a retort stand and series of boss heads and angled clamps to hold the Petri dishes at different angles allowed us to observe the progressive growth of the seedlings.

Tuesday:

Delighted to welcome back our guest speaker, Shreeya Haridas, an MLC School Old Girl who graduated in 2017. We had the opportunity to listen to her presentation where Shreeya shared her insights on how STEM has shaped her career journey, from her studies to her current role in sustainability.

Shreeya studied at UTS, completing a Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) alongside a Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation. Her passion for climate change and sustainability has led her to her current position as Sustainability Manager – APAC at ARYZTA.

We gained valuable insight into the diverse pathways available through STEM and heard how Shreeya’s studies, interests and experiences have opened doors to new and emerging career opportunities.

She left us with a resounding quote: “STEM gives us the tools. Sustainability gives us the motivation.”

Wednesday: The science department held the displaying and voting of the 2026 STEM Diorama Competition!

It was wonderful to see students from all cohorts celebrating their peers’ work and voting for their favourite scientist diorama. Additionally they got to participate in a special guessing challenge, trying to identify famous scientists represented in Mrs Lim’s creative LEGO dioramas! It was particularly pleasing to see a strong representation of female scientists across a wide range of disciplines, including Ada Lovelace, Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin, Gladys West, Barbara  McClintock, Temple Grandin and Ayesha Tulloch. The diversity of scientists featured reflected the many different ways STEM continues to influence society, from computing and genetics to conservation and environmental science.

I would like to thank Mrs Lim and Ms Cilia for their invaluable help in organising this event and supporting this STEM Week initiative. I hope the students enjoyed the activities and encourage them to remain curious, hoping they will continue to explore an interest in science and STEM related fields!

Click on gallery to view full images

– Kathleen Chrun (Year 12)
STEM Captain

Year 7

We have enjoyed another exciting week at MLC School, with our Year 7 students once again working alongside their older peers from Year 10 during Peer Support. The Year 7s continue to value the opportunity to spend Luminary time with their Big Sisters in Year 11, as well as with Year 10 students during Peer Support.

It is also important to acknowledge how enthusiastically the girls engaged with Book and STEM Week. More photos will be shared in next week’s newsletter article. During Luminary time, the girls spent time reading, dressed up as their favourite book or STEM character, and created amazing dioramas representing famous scientists and their discoveries. It was wonderful to see their creativity and the way they embraced the entire process. Well done, Year 7!

I would also like to congratulate our wonderful Year 7 students on the way they conduct themselves during assemblies and on their commitment to arriving on time. It is lovely to see so many girls making such a genuine effort to be punctual. I am very proud of you, Year 7, please keep it up.

A gentle reminder to please continue being kind to one another. As I mentioned during our Year meeting on Wednesday, if we do not have something kind or respectful to say, it is best to pause and keep that thought to ourselves. Choosing kindness and respect helps make our Year 7 community a place where everyone feels supported.

Finally, this week brought another of Ms Stolzi’s challenges, with the Wordle challenge taking centre stage. What better way to start the school day than with a light-hearted challenge, a chance to relieve a little stress, share a laugh and, perhaps, win a lolly? I think it might just be the best way to begin the day.

To conclude, please see below the information on the High Potential Learning Showcase this term with the link to register your attendance:

Invitation to High Potential Learning Showcase – Term 3 Event 

Parents and students from Kindergarten to Year 12 are warmly invited to attend.

Hosted by: MLC School Learning Enhancement Department 
When: Monday 7 September 
Time: 4pm – 5pm 
Location: Ailsa Butcher Room 

MLC School is delighted to present its first High Potential Learning Showcase, celebrating the creativity, curiosity and achievements of students from Junior School and Senior School. The event will feature a diverse selection of student work and provide the community with an opportunity to see how learners have extended their thinking, pursued their interests and embraced challenge through High Potential Learning initiatives across the School. 

To register your attendance, email led@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au 

Click on gallery to view full images

– Martina Stolzi
Acting Head of Year 7

Year 8

Week 6 has certainly been a busy one! As part of our Book Week celebrations, Year 8 students enjoyed spending time with their Year 12 Big Sisters, sharing in activities inspired by this year’s theme ‘Symphony of Stories’. It was wonderful to see students continuing their connections across year groups and celebrating a love of reading together. This week was STEM week with the theme ‘Seeds of Science: Nurturing Knowledge for All’. There were many opportunities for students to engage in both Book and STEM week with diorama challenges, a spelling bee and the Book or STEM Dress Up on Friday! 

• Blazers should be worn to and from school as part of the winter uniform. There were a lot of students with blazers ‘at the dry cleaners’ or ‘in their lockers’ this week. We please ask for your support to ensure your daughter has her blazer when she comes to and from school each day whilst in winter uniform. 
• Phones are to be switched off and away during the school day (in bags in lockers), in line with school expectations. This means from the moment students walk in the front gate until the end of the school day.

– Claire White
Head of Year 8

Year 9

This week, we have been celebrating a combined Book Week and STEM Week at MLC School. Although National Science Week officially took place last week, students have enjoyed a range of STEM and book-related activities organised by our Scholar Portfolio captaincy team. These included a diorama competition, crystal growing, microscopic observations, seed planting and a spelling bee. It was wonderful to see our Year 9 girls getting involved, and you will see a photo of some of them enjoying time in the Science laboratories.

During our Chapel service, we had the pleasure of hearing from Julia Choi (Year 12), who spoke with the cohort about her faith journey. Julia shared, with honesty and grace, her story of discovering and understanding her Christian faith and what this means to her. It was a valuable reflection for Year 9 to hear, encouraging them to consider that faith can look different for each person and that it is important to listen respectfully to different perspectives.

Year 9 also hosted Year 6 during Luminary time on Monday, where they shared stories about their favourite books and enjoyed some fun games together. It was lovely to see the interactions between the different year groups and to observe how open and welcoming Year 9 were towards the younger students. Being in the middle of the Senior School, Year 9 can sometimes forget that they are role models. Experiences such as these remind them that younger students do look up to them and may often model their behaviour, making this a timely opportunity to reinforce the importance of positive leadership and example.

Finally, Year 9 heard from Marianna Carlino, Director of eLearning, about the effective and ethical use of AI to support their study. The presentation explored the importance of using AI honestly, including keeping a record of when and how it has been used so students can demonstrate responsible use if required. Students were also reminded that AI should not simply be used to find an answer, as much of the learning comes from the productive struggle of working through and understanding a concept. They were also encouraged to consider the environmental impact of AI use, particularly the significant energy and water demands associated with each interaction.

It has been a wonderful week for Year 9, and with only three weeks left of term, there is still much to look forward to.

Invitation to High Potential Learning Showcase – Term 3 Event 

Parents and students from Kindergarten to Year 12 are warmly invited to attend.

Hosted by: MLC School Learning Enhancement Department 
When: Monday 7 September 
Time: 4pm – 5pm 
Location: Ailsa Butcher Room 

MLC School is delighted to present its first High Potential Learning Showcase, celebrating the creativity, curiosity and achievements of students from Junior School and Senior School. The event will feature a diverse selection of student work and provide the community with an opportunity to see how learners have extended their thinking, pursued their interests and embraced challenge through High Potential Learning initiatives across the School. 

To register your attendance, email led@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au 

Click on gallery to view full images

– Kate Schurch
Head of Year 9

Year 10

As we move through the middle of Term 3, Year 10 students continue their approach to work together, form friendships and connections and build a strong sense of community. There are many exciting things on the horizon for Year 10, including the DDE Tour to Europe and the History Tour to Germany and Italy, in the next holiday break.

Year 10 students have continued their Peer Support work with Year 7, building positive relationships and helping younger students feel connected and confident in the Senior School. Through small-group activities and conversations, our Year 10 leaders are developing communication, empathy and teamwork while modelling the values of care, inclusion and responsibility. Our image this week is of Year 7 and Year 10 Abbeythorpe with Head of Abbeythorpe House – Jake Morrisey. Next week the girls will be working with Year 7 to discuss: ‘Bullying: No Way’ as part of RUOk? Day.

As assessment commitments increase, students are encouraged to plan ahead, use feedback purposefully and stay as organised as possible. Families can support this by checking upcoming due dates on the assessment calendar, encouraging regular study rather than last-minute preparation, and protecting time for sleep, exercise and restorative activities. Please flag issues early and encourage your daughter to attend Study Hub Plus on Level 3 from Monday to Thursday and the subject clinics held at lunchtime in the Senior Centre.

Please encourage your child to seek help early if they are unsure about a task or are finding their workload difficult to manage. If you have an academic concern, please contact your daughter’s teacher. For pastoral and wellbeing concerns, please contact your daughter’s luminary or me on sconnolly1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au or on 02 8741 9736. I am available Monday to Friday for discussions, Teams meetings or meetings on site.

Invitation to High Potential Learning Showcase – Term 3 Event 

Parents and students from Kindergarten to Year 12 are warmly invited to attend.

Hosted by: MLC School Learning Enhancement Department 
When: Monday 7 September 
Time: 4pm – 5pm 
Location: Ailsa Butcher Room 

MLC School is delighted to present its first High Potential Learning Showcase, celebrating the creativity, curiosity and achievements of students from Junior School and Senior School. The event will feature a diverse selection of student work and provide the community with an opportunity to see how learners have extended their thinking, pursued their interests and embraced challenge through High Potential Learning initiatives across the School. 

To register your attendance, email led@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au 

– Sharon Connolly
Head of Year 10

Year 10 Work Experience : Due Date Friday 11 September

A very important reminder: Student Placement Records (SPRs) are due Friday 11 September.

We are now in the final weeks before the deadline, and there is limited time for placements to be processed and approved.

Students that have secured a placement, are to submit their completed SPR as soon as possible.

We ask that they do not wait until the due date, as delays may affect approval and preparation for your placement.

Students that may need support in finding a host employer or completing forms can meet us directly or attend one of our Wednesday lunchtime Work Experience Workshops.

We also appreciate any support for students still looking for placements. If you have any family or friends that can provide additional placement or offer their business as a potential host employer, we encourage you to complete your details using the following link.

2026 Host Employer – EOI Form

Parents and carers also have access to the following resources and links through the MLC School Omnia App.

• Work Experience Letter to Year 10 2026 parents
• Work Experience Handbook Year 10 2026
• Year 10 2026 Work Experience Presentation Slides
• Year 10 2026 Work Experience Placement Enquiry
• Student Placement Record
• 2026 Year 10 Public Liability Certificate
• Work Experience FAQ’s
• Y10 Work Experience: How Families Can Help!

*Please rest assured that the School will provide host employers with the updated AON certificate as soon as it is received. This is expected to be available in mid-October, in advance of the scheduled work experience placement dates.

In the meantime, once the completed Student Placement Record has been submitted and received school sign-off, host employers are sent a copy along with the current certificate.

The accompanying email will also note that the updated certificate will be forwarded as soon as it becomes available.

Host employers have been confirming placements on this basis.

We wish to thank our parent community for their ongoing support in helping students make the most of this valuable opportunity to explore future career pathways and develop workplace skills.

– Nicole Massara
Futures and Pathways Advisor

Year 10 PASS

It’s fantastic to see our Year 10 PASS students developing their coaching skills through a combination of classroom learning and practical application. As part of their current unit, students are exploring the key principles of effective coaching, including communication, leadership, planning, skill development and providing constructive feedback.

We have been fortunate to welcome experienced coaches from MLC School into our lessons, who have generously shared their expertise and insights into what it takes to create engaging and effective coaching sessions. Their experiences have provided students with valuable perspectives and practical strategies that they can apply in their own coaching practice.

Over the coming weeks, students will put their learning into action as they design, implement and deliver their own coaching sessions. This hands on experience will challenge them to adapt activities to suit participants, communicate instructions clearly, and provide meaningful feedback. We look forward to seeing our students grow in confidence as they take on the role of coach and apply their knowledge in authentic sporting environments.

Click on gallery to view images

– Claire Johnson
Assistant Head of Department – PDHPE

Year 11

Year 11 have successfully completed the first week of their yearly examinations, and I have been incredibly impressed by the maturity and responsibility they have demonstrated this past week. They have arrived on time, prepared with the correct equipment, and in the appropriate uniform, all of which has contributed to creating a positive and focused examination environment.

It has also been wonderful to see so many Year 11 students making the most of the support available to them at MLC School. Many have chosen to remain at school on Level 3 to study, while others have met with teachers for extra support or attended Study Hub after school. Their commitment to their learning, willingness to ask for support when needed and to find the right environment to study is encouraging and the right steps forward to creating healthy study routines needed in Year 12.

As we move into the second week of the examination block, I hope Year 11 continue to approach their exams with calmness, confidence, and perspective. We are grateful for the ongoing support of parents and carers in helping Year 11 maintain healthy routines, balanced study habits, and positive wellbeing practices during this busy period. Ensuring your daughter is getting adequate sleep, taking breaks, staying active, and maintaining perspective all play an important role in helping them navigate the examination block successfully.

I wish all Year 11 students the very best for the remainder of their examinations.

Year 12 2027 Book Lists

The 2027 Year 12 Book Lists are now available for online ordering.

Please use the following direct link to the Campion website:
https://campion.com.au/

School Code: H3RD

To ensure timely delivery, we recommend placing orders promptly by Friday 18 September 2026. Please note that while orders can still be placed after this deadline, delivery before the start of Term 4 cannot be guaranteed.

If you have any questions about the Book Lists, please kindly contact the relevant subject Head of Department.

For any issues with ordering online, please kindly contact Campion directly. Book Lists are also available via Omnia.

Please click on the relevant button below. A ‘how to order’ instruction is also provided below:

Year 12 2027 HSC Book List

Year 12 2027 IB Book List

Campion How To Order Books

Invitation to High Potential Learning Showcase – Term 3 Event 

Parents and students from Kindergarten to Year 12 are warmly invited to attend.

Hosted by: MLC School Learning Enhancement Department 
When: Monday 7 September 
Time: 4pm – 5pm 
Location: Ailsa Butcher Room 

MLC School is delighted to present its first High Potential Learning Showcase, celebrating the creativity, curiosity and achievements of students from Junior School and Senior School. The event will feature a diverse selection of student work and provide the community with an opportunity to see how learners have extended their thinking, pursued their interests and embraced challenge through High Potential Learning initiatives across the School. 

To register your attendance, email led@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au 

– Penny Hewett
Head of Year 11

Year 12

• 10am – Year 12 Paver Reveal (select students and families)

• 11am – Class of 2026 Valedictory Assembly and Service (students and guests)

• 7pm – Class of 2026 Valedictory Dinner (students and guests) Le Montage, Lilyfield

Invitation to High Potential Learning Showcase – Term 3 Event 

Parents and students from Kindergarten to Year 12 are warmly invited to attend.

Hosted by: MLC School Learning Enhancement Department 
When: Monday 7 September 
Time: 4pm – 5pm 
Location: Ailsa Butcher Room 

MLC School is delighted to present its first High Potential Learning Showcase, celebrating the creativity, curiosity and achievements of students from Junior School and Senior School. The event will feature a diverse selection of student work and provide the community with an opportunity to see how learners have extended their thinking, pursued their interests and embraced challenge through High Potential Learning initiatives across the School. 

To register your attendance, email led@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au 

– Bridget Kovats
Head of Year 12

Arigatou Yuna sensei お疲れ様でした！

This week we farewell Yuna Yamada who has been a Japanese assistant teacher for the past three weeks. Yuna sensei is from Osaka, Japan and is studying at Kwansei Gakuin University, with a major in Language teaching, to teach English, Japanese and French.

Our Year 12 Japanese class are especially grateful to Yuna Sensei and her presence has been a constant light in all of our classrooms. Always patient to teach us and ready with a smile, it’s been lovely to get to know her and practice our Japanese with her. Particularly leading up to the final Year 12 IB oral, having a Japanese assistant speaker to converse with was invaluable. All of the Year 12 IB class is endlessly grateful for Yuna Sensei’s help.

She’s also brought so much joy into class, allowing all students to ground their language learning in real conversation. After all, it’s one thing to learn grammar and vocabulary; it is another to bridge the gap between two cultures using that knowledge, even if it is limited or shaky. It’s in building that bridge that real language learning begins.

Upon asking her about her favourite memory at MLC School, Yuna Sensei mentioned conversing with students and getting to know everyone at the school was most enjoyable. While we’re sad to see her go, we wish her all the best with her future endeavours and university study!

Click on gallery to view full images

– Jordan Vo (Year 12)

Futures and Pathways – General Information

Explore the buttons below for information on courses, webinars, events, open days, holiday workshops, competitions and scholarships.

Students, parents and carers are encouraged to register and apply for opportunities that match their interests. 

📍 University of Sydney (USYD) – 29 August
📍 University of Technology Sydney (UTS) – 29 August
📍 University of New South Wales (UNSW) – 5 September

Open Days

Open Days Guide 2026

– Nicole Massara
Futures and Pathways Advisors

*The Study Work Grow Resources are used for these events.

Sport Report

Another action-packed week of MLC School sport, with our students continuing to Dare to Be More across all levels of competition.

Last Friday, 26 Senior School athletes represented MLC School at the 101st IGSA Athletics Championships at SOPAC. Following a successful 2025 campaign, MLC School moved into Division 2 this year, and our athletes performed exceptionally well, finishing 12th overall from 28 schools.

Some of our strongest results came in the Junior events, which is an exciting indication of the continued growth of MLC School Athletics.

A standout performance came from Year 7 student Chloe Pun, who not only claimed Gold but set a new IGSA 13 Years 100m record, crossing the line in an outstanding 12.58 seconds. Congratulations, Chloe!

Our Junior Track and Field athletes also competed at the IPSHA Championships this week, with a strong MLC School team producing a number of impressive personal bests.

We look forward to celebrating the achievements of our Junior and Senior School athletes in a dedicated Athletics feature in next week’s newsletter, so stay tuned!

We are now well into Term 3, with the IGSA and ERNA Saturday competitions entering their final rounds. Our teams are battling for valuable points as they push towards the finals, and we wish all our athletes and coaches the very best for the remaining rounds.

Have a great weekend!

–  Scott Carpenter
Director of Sports

Sport Announcements

MLC School Senior School House Athletics Carnival – Transport

Get ready for another fantastic day of House Spirit! 

Our MLC School Senior School House Athletics Carnival is coming up on Tuesday 8 September at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre and Athletic Centre (SOPAC), and we are excited to finish our school sporting carnivals for the year with another great day of competition, participation and House spirit.

Travel Arrangements

Year 6 to Year 8 – Students will travel by bus to and from SOPAC.

Permission to travel Athletics House Carnival Transportation Year 6 to Year 8

Year 9 to Year 12 – Students have the option of making their own way to and from the carnival.

Permission to travel Athletics House Carnival Transportation Year 9 to Year 12

To assist us with transport planning and organisation, Parents and carers are asked to complete the form below to indicate their travel arrangements by Wednesday 2 September.

Please ensure the form is completed by the requested date so we can finalise transport arrangements.

We look forward to seeing everyone at SOPAC and celebrating another great day of MLC School House Spirit!

Term 4 registrations have now closed for IGSA and IPSHA competitive sports. If you have missed out, please reach out to the sports department. We might have some vacancies available. Pages will remain open for our non-competition sports and activities, there are still limited places available in several recreational and co-curricular programs, including:

• Diving

• Swimming

• Fencing

• Athletics

• MLC Park Run / Run Club

• MLC Fit – Mat Pilates, Yoga and Fitness

Spaces are limited, so log in to Omina to secure your place.

Activities Selection information

Tennis

Registrations are still open for Term 4 co-curricular tennis, private lessons groups and squads remain open.

Current opportunities:

• Monday 3.30pm to 4.15pm – Kindergarten to Year 2 Orange ball hotshots

• Monday 3.30pm to 4.30pm – Year 7 to Year 10 Development squad

• Monday 4.15pm to 5.30pm – Privates

• Wednesday 6.45pm to 8am – Junior Year 3 to Year 6 squad

• Thursday 3.30pm to 4.15pm – Kindergarten to Year 1 Orange ball hotshots

• Thursday from 4.15pm to 5.30pm – Private lessons

If you are interested in any of these sessions or have any questions regarding tennis, please contact Adrian Montgomery: amontgomery@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au

ERNA Netball Notice

Available for all MLC School students playing in ERNA, Nominations are now open for the 2027 ERNA 12-15 year Representative Squads.

Families and Athletes are asked to read the “ERNA Junior Representative Selection Program 2027 Parent & Athlete Handbook” before nominating. Details on trial dates are also included in the Handbook linked here.

The link to nominate can be found here. 

Nominations close Thursday 10 September 2026.

Sport Achievements

18&U Girls Water Polo Exchange – CIS Water Polo Team Wins Gold

Zoe Pollard (Year 12) represented the NSW CIS Water Polo Team last week in Woy Woy at the 18&U Girls Water Polo Interschools Exchange. After a huge 3 days of rounds, semi’s and finals, it came down to NSW CIS vs Queensland, where the NSW CIS Team rose to the occasion and won the Gold Medal match with a great score of 11-9!  

Swimming

Over the weekend, five students proudly competed at the 2026 New South Wales Short Course Swimming Championships at SOPAC. At the final major meet of the winter season, every swimmer delivered an outstanding performance. Congratulations to all five students on ending the season on such a positive and inspiring note!

Congratulations to all five swimmers on their outstanding achievements.

Madison Chantler (Year 11) earned gold in the 100m butterfly, silver in the 50m butterfly and 400m individual medley, and bronze in the 50m backstroke.

Olivia Burke (Year 9) delivered excellent distance freestyle performances, placing fifth in the 800m freestyle and sixth in the 400m freestyle.

Iris Ji (Year 10) achieved a terrific seventh-place finish in the 100m breaststroke.

Isabel Floro (Year 10) also delivered strong performances across her events, achieving personal-best times in the 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle,

Ashley Clapham (Year 8) recorded two significant personal-best times in the 50m and 100m butterfly. Well done, girls!

Ashley Clapham (Year 8)

• Top 30 – Girls 14-15 100m Fly
• Top 35 – Girls 14-15 50m Fly – Top 35

Olivia Burke (Year 9)

• 6^th – Girls 14/ Over 400m FS
• Top 30 – Girls 14-15 100m FS
• 5^th – Girls 14/ Over 800m FS
• Top 20- Girls 14-15 50m FS
• Top 20 – Girls 14-15 200m FS

Isable Floro (Year 10)

• Top 25 – Girls 14-15 100m Fly
• Top 50 – Girls 14-15 50m Fly
• Top 30 – Girls 14-15 100m FS
• Top 40 – Girls 14-15 50m FS
• Top 15 – Girls 14-15 200m FS

Iris Ji (Year 10)

• 7^th – Girls 16/Over 100m BR
• Top 15 – Girls 16-17 50m Fly
• 8^th – Girls 16-17 50 BR

Madison Chantler (Year 11)

• 1^st – Girls 16/Over 100m Fly
• 2^nd – Girls 16-17 50m Fly
• 4^th – Girls 16/ Over 100m BK
• Top 15  – Girls 16-17 50m FS
• 3^rd – Girls 16-17 50m BK
• 2^nd – Girls 14/Over 400m IM

Click on gallery to view full images

Snowsports

Congratulations to all the students that competed at the State Championships in Perisher last week. The final results from Friday include:

• Arielle McBrien (Year 7) – 59^th Division 3 Ski Cross
• Cecilia Lau (Year 9) – 57^th Division 2 Ski Cross
• Niamh Johnson (Year 11) – 38^th Division 1 Ski Cross

Next week from Tuesday 1 September to Sunday 6 September the following MLC School students have been selected to represent MLC School at the National Championships

• Elise Shen (Year 4) – Division 4 Alpine, Ski Cross, Moguls and Cross Country
• Arielle McBrien (Year 7) – Division 3 Moguls
• Euna Cho  (Year 9) – Division 2 Snowboard Cross
• Noelle Foo (Year 10) – Division 2 Cross Country and Div1 Cross Country Relay
• Holly Skowno (Year 10) – Division 1 Cross Country Relay
• Haegan Sitou (Year 12) – Division 1 Cross Country
• Niamh Johnson  (Year 11) – Division 1 Slopestyle, Cross Country and Cross Country Relay

Congratulations and good luck at Nationals.

Click on gallery to view full images

Basketball 

Round 5 was a fantastic week for MLC School Basketball, with five teams recording impressive victories. The standout performances came from our Senior Firsts, who delivered a commanding win, and our Junior Firsts, who secured a hard-fought victory to maintain their unbeaten season.

It was also great to see MLC02 claim their second consecutive win, while MLC03 and MLC06 showed tremendous composure to hold their nerve and edge out some tightly contested matches.

Congratulations to all players and coaches on a successful round. Best of luck to all teams this weekend, and hopefully we can continue building on this momentum in the weeks ahead.

A reminder that registrations for Term 4 IPSHA Basketball are closing soon. If you are interested in representing MLC School, please get in contact as soon as possible.

Badminton

Round 4 was a challenging week for MLC School Badminton in our Friday night competition, with our teams facing some strong opposition across the board. Congratulations to MLC04 and MLC08 on their impressive victories, which were great rewards for their hard work and determination.

While the results did not all go our way, every match provided valuable experience and learning opportunities. Hopefully the challenges of last week will help prepare our students for another exciting round of badminton this Friday. We wish all teams the best of luck and look forward to seeing their continued growth and development on court.

A reminder that registrations for Term 4 IGSA Badminton are closing soon. If you are interested in representing MLC School, please get in contact as soon as possible.

Tennis

Just a reminder to any students who were part of the Tildesley team this year, or those considering trialing for the team next year, that we will be running our exciting Australian Open Tennis Camp from 17 January to 21 January 2027.

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills, experience world-class tennis, and prepare for the upcoming season. If you are interested in attending, please get in contact as soon as possible, as payment information will be sent out early next week.

A reminder that registrations for Term 4 IGSA and IPSHA Tennis are closing soon. If you are interested in representing MLC School, please get in contact as soon as possible.

MLC School EAP Athletes Shine at National Cross Country Championships

MLC School Elite Athlete Program (EAP) athletes Ruth Costello (Year 10) and Olivia Kalamvokis (Year 9) competed at the Athletics Australia National Cross Country Championships at Victoria Park, Ballarat, last Saturday.

Representing their school, clubs and state, both athletes faced some of the most challenging cross-country conditions they have experienced. The race was conducted in cold 11°C temperatures and persistent drizzle, with competitors battling through deep, strength-sapping mud, logs and challenging man-made hills.

Olivia produced a superb performance, finishing strongly over the second of the two 2km laps. Showing excellent composure and determination in the difficult conditions, she powered through the mud to finish 6th from approximately 64 state-representative athletes, an outstanding national-level result.

Ruth also put herself in a strong competitive position early, maintaining a top-ten placing for much of the race. Despite the demanding conditions taking their toll, Ruth continued to fight to the finish, falling twice in the final 150 metres due to fatigue and the slippery mud. She showed tremendous resilience to finish the 13th.

MLC School is incredibly proud of both Ruth and Olivia for their outstanding performances, resilience and determination at the national championships.

We look forward to following their progress as they turn their attention to the upcoming Athletics season.

Click on gallery to view full images

Play of the Week

Congratulations to Elise Shen (Year 4) on her outstanding performance at the Interschools State Snowsports Championships held in Perisher last week.

Elise claimed two Bronze Medals, earning her first in Ski Cross and her second in Moguls. Elise also delivered impressive performances across the competition, finishing in the top five in both Alpine and Cross-Country events.

Following her strong results at the State Championships, Elise has qualified to compete in all four disciplines at the National Championships, which will be held from 1 September to 6 September 2026.

We wish Elise the very best of luck as she represents her school on the national stage.

Private Music Tuition Rollover for Term 4

As we prepare for the upcoming term, please be reminded of our enrolment policy for private music tuition. Students currently enrolled in a Term 3 private music tuition will automatically continue in the same activity for Term 4, with charges applied to your Term 4 fee statement.

This policy will be strictly enforced, so if you wish to withdraw your daughter from music tuition, please notify us by Friday September 4, 10am. Without notification, you will be charged the full term’s fees, and no refunds will be provided.

If you would like to withdraw your daughter from private music tuition, please complete the Private Music Tuition Withdrawal Form by the deadline mentioned above.

If we do not hear from you, your daughter’s private music tuition will be confirmed for Term 4, and the fees will be processed accordingly.

Thank you for your cooperation.

-Trevor Mee
Director of Music

MLC School RoboCup Results

On Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 August, 37 students from our Junior and Senior Competition Robotics programs attended the RoboCup NSW State Competition.

Our students competed in the Maze, Rescue and OnStage divisions. All teams did exceptionally well, many competing for the first time. We were especially proud of the resilience and collaboration shown on the day and in the lead up to the competition.

Click on gallery to view full images

Special congratulations to the following teams receiving awards and placings:

• 1st Place Novice Primary Onstage (Overall) : MLC Disney’s Got Talent – Peita Nikolakopoulos (Year 6), Henrietta Britton (Year 6), Zara (Year 6)
• Judge’s Award for Technical Excellence : MLC Disney’s Got Talent – Peita Nikolakopoulos (Year 6), Henrietta Britton (Year 6), Zara (Year 6)
• 2nd Place Open Onstage (Overall) : MLC Impending Doom –  Ethelia Cassar (Year 10), Indi Hannah (Year 10), Emily (Year 10), Bonnie Li (Year 9)
• 2nd Place Intermediate Maze: MLC Snack Club – Caydence Sumantri (Year 10), Megan Nguyen (Year 9), Nicola Keast (Year 11), Sanaya Nair (Year 11)
• 3rd Place Open Onstage (Overall): MLC Scrambled Eggs Victoria (Year 7), Remy (Year 7), Fedra (Year 8) Charlie (year 8)
• 3rd Place Novice Primary (Tues) : MLC Little Red Robots – May Zaichkowsky (Year 6), Sadie Wilson (Year 6)
• 4th Place Ollie Onstage: MLC Mad Scientists – Maya Erazo Djurisic (Year 5), Leila Najdi (Year 5), Avery (Year 5)
• 4th Place Maisy Maze: MLC Effugitor Labryinthi Servator Victamarum – Hannah Girgis (7), Olivia Smith (7), Oliva Gu (Year 6)

– Marie Cassar
STEM Co-curricular Coordinator

September Holiday Production

We are excited to announce that our Junior September Holiday Production Aladdin is now enrolling!

Students will gain confidence, develop their performance skills and have lots of fun as they are taken through an exciting rehearsal process incorporating acting, singing and dance to produce a full production in just five days.

Students experience what it is like to be part of a production team from start to finish, whether they are performing on stage or working behind the scenes. At the end of the week, students will perform the production for family and friends.

An enormous increase in confidence, teamwork and performance skills can be seen throughout the week. Our holiday productions also provide a wonderful opportunity for students to make new friends across different year levels, build their confidence and discover that every student can feel like a star!

Book early – places are limited!

Holiday Production Link here

September Holiday Production – Aladdin

Monday 21 September to Friday 25 September 2026 (5 days)
9am – 3pm
MLC School Drama Theatre

Performance: Friday 25 September at 2pm (audience free of charge)

• Cast: Kindergarten to Year 6  – $500
• Crew: Year 7 to Year 12 – $440

For enquiries contact The Speech and Drama Studio

– Monica Brian
Speech and Drama Studio Director