From the Head of Junior School

From the Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing

We all go through ups and downs. This is a normal part of life. But what happens when we feel down more often than not?

RU OK? Day is a National Day of Action to encourage Australians to have meaningful conversations about mental health and check in with loved ones. The theme for 2025 is “Ask R U OK? Any Day,” emphasising that a conversation can happen any day of the year, not just on the official day.

The goal is to remind everyone to check in with friends, family, and colleagues, especially when they might be struggling. 

How to get involved

• Start a conversation: Use your voice to ask someone, “Are you OK?”. 
• Listen: If someone says they aren’t okay, listen with an open mind. 
• Encourage action: Help the person think about steps they can take, like talking to friends, family, or a professional. 
• Check in later: Follow up to show you care and to see how they’re doing. 

Why it matters

• Mental illness affects many Australians, and a simple conversation can make a huge difference in helping someone feel connected and supported. 
• Having meaningful conversations is a protective factor, so taking the time to ask and listen is a powerful way to help. 

Of course, before we can look out for others, we need to look out for ourselves. We should ensure we are in the right headspace first. Perhaps we might not be the right person to have such a conversation. If we are not in the right headspace or don’t think we are the right person, try to think of someone else in that person’s network who could talk to them.

For tips and resources about starting conversations and supporting others see: ruok.org.au

Let’s continue to build a school where everyone feels safe to share, connect, and support each other.

Remember: a conversation could change a life.

Are you OK?

– Joanne Sharpe
Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing

Year 5 Celebration of Learning

Celebration of Learning  

On 10 September in Year 5, we celebrated our Celebration of Learning. It was a great chance to celebrate our success, admire how far we have traveled, and show our parents our learning journey. We showcased our work in math, writing, our CLP (Collaborative Learning Project), and drama that each demonstrated a different level of growth as learners.

When I was solving my math problem, I had a mix of nervousness and confidence. At first, I was worried that I would not be able to find out the answers to the countdown problem. But once I started giving the explanation, I concluded that at the end of the day mathematics is not just about reaching the correct answer but also the thinking process, problem-solving, and approaching different strategies to solving the problem. I was satisfied to realise that my mum comprehended my thought process, not merely the end result. It taught me that persistence and explaining in a clear manner are just as important as accuracy.

After that, I read a writing piece that we had done over the course of several lessons. The piece was about a character that we had to use our imagination for to create in the context of the book: Runt. It indicated just how far I have progressed in developing my vocabulary, trying out descriptive writing, and constructing more complex sentences. Reading out aloud to my parents allowed me to demonstrate how my expression and fluency have developed. I was pleased to be able to describe the decisions that I had taken as a writer, like being more accurate with my word choice or changing my sentence structure.

The CLP poster presentation was another significant event in the morning. My partner and I made a poster on gravity, which involved research, creativity, and collaboration. I loved working as a team to ensure that we were conveying our ideas effectively and in an organised manner. The best part was explaining to my parents how gravity plays a role in our everyday lives, from things like walking to a complicated, scientific theory. This made me see the connection of class lessons to real life and how scientific information enables us to understand the world around us.

The highlight of the event for me was our Drama performance. Performing enabled us to express our creativity as well as ourselves, and also to exhibit confidence, teamwork, and stage presence. I liked becoming a part of the role and making the script come alive on stage. I was proud of myself and my fellow classmates for working together and producing something fun and worthwhile afterward.

Celebration of Learning was a memorable experience overall. It provided an opportunity to think about how much I have learned in various subjects and be able to share it with my parents. Being able to share my learning in so many different forms  solving math problems, writing, scientific experimentation, and performance made me perceive how diverse the skills in learning are. Most of all, the experience taught me that learning is not a just a matter of completing things and creating results but of developing confidence, acquiring knowledge, and showing growth in our learning.

– Leanna Shen (Year 5)

We had our Year 5 Celebration of Learning on Wednesday 10 September. We had an opportunity to show what we have learnt this term in CLP, Maths, Drama and English to our parents. During Maths, we had an exciting time showing our parents the game- Countdown to prove our problem-solving skills. In English we read out our character descriptions of our own characters using descriptive language like Craig Silvery, and we described how we used alliteration to make the story more engaging. In CLP, we showed our parents how our Earth is part of an interconnected system, not just one but many systems! Like the hydrological cycle, the system of the seasons, day and night and the systems related to space junk. I personally enjoyed and have a strong interest learning about the seasons and the systems connected to space junk.

Every student in Year 5W,5O, 5N and 5C performed a lighthearted and humorous play for Drama in front of our parents. The play scripts were created by us with the help of Miss Anderson, our talented Drama teacher. It was amazing seeing the scenes from Disney come to life. Through the laughter and applause, there was a sense that the audience, our family and parents, were really delighted to see such a wonderful array of performances and our talents. I would like to have more opportunities like this in the future, where we can develop and perform our class play, as it was extremely enjoyable!

– Olivia Cheng (Year 5)

At the Celebration of Learning, Year 5 girls and their parents shared some activities together. The activities involved showing their parents their abilities in Maths, Writing, CLP, and Drama. Year 5 showed their parents their Maths skills using a worksheet that is based on a TV show called, “Countdown.” The activity involves a choice of 5 numbers and a target number. Using our knowledge of numbers we applied many strategies to reach the target number. We also showed our parents our Writing, where we had written about a character to put into the book “Runt”. In CLP we showed our parents our poster related to one of the systems, that impact our Earth. Mine was on the topic of gravity. Then as the finale, each class performed a short play. 5N did Snow White and the Rappers, 5C did The Not So Mysterious Disappearance of Cinderella, 5O did Beauty and the Beast?, and finally 5W did Alice in Wonderland (the funny version). Our class drama performance finished our morning together.

– Olivia Gu (Year 5)

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The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2025

The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards seeks to capture the imaginations of school students across Australia, inspiring them to express their thoughts and feelings through the medium of poetry in their pursuit of literary excellence. This year nearly 8,500 poems were received from over 5,800 students from 660 schools across Australia.

Students were encouraged to take inspiration from a place of choice. The optional theme was ‘All the Beautiful Things’. Students were encouraged to write about topics and experiences that sparked their poetic genius.

There were many creative and heartfelt expressions from students as they explored the wonder and beauty in the world around them. A number of students from Year 6 entered the competition, responding to our poetry unit based around the text Bindi by Kirli Saunders. We were excited to hear that Maya Haysom-McDowell (Year 6) was presented with a Highly Commended award for her poem Devastation.

Well done to all the girls who entered and congratulations Maya for your sensitive and insightful poem about fire. You can read Maya’s poem below.

– Year 6 teachers

Devastation

A tree, ashen.
A house, blackened.

Slivers of orange,
Flitting amongst smouldering rubble.

Lives ruined
Dreams shattered.

But suddenly…

A speck of green,
Among the black.                                                                                                                                                         

Dusted with charcoal
But growing strong.

Flourish, little sprout.
Regrow our lives.

– Maya Haysom-McDowell
Age 11 years
Class 6F3
MLC School

News from the Library

Premier’s Reading Challenge February 24 – September 19

One more week to go!

Congratulations to all the girls from Kindergarten to Year 5 who have completed the challenge. Our PRC display wall is bursting with jellyfish books and butterflies. 

Congratulations to these readers who have recently completed the challenge:

Year 2

• Aurelia Christoff
• Celeste Jones
• Sofia El Charkaoui

Year 3

• Maryam Refai
• Amelia Huang
• Olivia Kepreotis

Year 4

• Angela Ge

Year 5

• Ziva Ali
• Indira Dickson
• Sophie Dowd
• Serena Li

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

Book Week Activities

This term, as well as exploring the CBCA books and KOALA Award books, the primary girls have been completing a “Book an Adventure” passport. They have been encouraged to read more widely across genres and to respond creatively to the books they have read. They will be awarded house points for every stamp they have achieved and raffle tickets into a draw for a book prize per class. I will be announcing the winners next week.

Happy reading!

– Sharon Seymour
Teacher/Librarian

From the Head of Senior School

As we come to the end of Term 3, we prepare to farewell our Year 12 group next week. It is always important for the younger year groups to participate in these important school events in order inspire them to reflect on their own journey ahead.

Uniform reminder

As we look toward Term 4, could we please ask you to reinforce uniform expectations with your daughter. We have reminded the students of the following in relation to the summer uniform:

1. When wearing the summer uniform, students are not permitted to wear the jumper to and from school as the only outer garment. If they wish to wear a jumper, they must have their blazer over the top. The blazer is the only approved outer garment for travel to and from school at all times. 
2. Some students need to adjust the length of their skirts and dresses. The dress and skirt need to go to the knee. Please ensure you have attended to this before students return to School in Term 4.
3. Students must have the approved sports bag or MLC School bag. No other bags (Longchamp or other back packs) are acceptable.

This is not just for walking through the gates. Students must maintain this uniform as they travel from home to School and on the way home until they are no longer in school uniform.

A reminder too about ear piercings – only one small plain gold/silver sleeper or stud is permitted to be worn in the lobe only. If students choose to add a piercing over the break, it must be removed before returning to School

An important IT message

We continue to see instances of students attempting to access blocked websites during the school day using a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

Some students have installed VPN software on their devices. While VPNs can be useful in other contexts, at school they are being used to bypass important security controls. This not only allows access to blocked sites but also increases the risk of exposure to inappropriate or unsafe online content.

For security reasons, our system now automatically detects VPN use. Students who attempt to log in while connected to a VPN will be flagged as high-risk users and their access to school systems will be blocked. To regain access, they will need to visit the IT Service Desk. To prevent this disruption, students are strongly advised not to use a VPN while at school.

We ask for your support in reinforcing this message. Please have a conversation with your daughter about why these restrictions are in place — they are not punitive but are designed to ensure safety and wellbeing. We also encourage you to check her device for VPN software and remove it if present. A step-by-step guide from our IT team has been attached to assist with this process.

Ensuring our students remain safe online is a priority at MLC School, and this is best achieved through a partnership between families and the school, setting clear and appropriate boundaries together.

You read more about how to find and remove a VPN from your Child’s MacBook in the below document.

How to Find and Remove VPN from Your Child’s MacBook

Study Hub Next Week

– Joanna Graffen
Head of Senior School

From the Deputy Head of Senior School-Wellbeing

R U OK? Day

On Thursday 11 September, MLC School joined the national movement for R U OK? Day, embracing this year’s theme: “Ask R U OK? Any Day.” The message is clear—supporting one another doesn’t need to wait for a special occasion. Every day is a good day to check in.

The theme for R U OK? Day 2025 is ask R U OK Any Day.

 You don’t need to be an expert to start a meaningful conversation to support the people in your world. 

R U OK? Day is a national initiative that encourages Australians to connect through meaningful conversations. Research shows that regular check-ins can make a real difference in someone’s wellbeing. You don’t need to be an expert—just someone who cares.

This year’s program was thoughtfully led by our Wellbeing Committee, led by Wellbeing Captain Zoe Likely (Year 12). Students and staff participated in Luminary activities, wore mufti with a splash of yellow and shared Kit Kats and R U OK Day resources to show support and spark conversations. Staff and students were encouraged to check in with each other, and if feeling able, support someone by reaching out and letting them know they are there to help. Making someone feel supported and connected and taking the time for a meaningful conversation might be just what someone needs to help them through a tough time. 

At MLC School, we hope to educate our students that regular meaningful conversations can make a difference. You don’t require qualifications to ask how someone’s going, just be a good friend and a good listener. Students had the opportunity to explore the 4 points of checking in with someone and were reminded of their support networks at school. This ethos is woven into our school’s wellbeing approach, encouraging students to be good friends, attentive listeners, and active supporters of one another.

The image is the Wellbeing committee, led by Zoe Likely.

– Andrew Taylor
Deputy Head of Senior School-Wellbeing

Click on gallery to view full images

Nani ga suki? We love Japanese!

Nani ga suki? We love Japanese!

This term in Japanese classes we have been fortunate to welcome five university students to MLC School. I would like to introduce our final assistants, Seina Bamba and Momoka Shibairi who have been making a wonderful contribution to the Japanese classes. Their support and enthusiasm is appreciated. Not only have they shared cultural insights, the opportunity to speak with native assistants prior to the speaking exams has been invaluable for the students. Momoka sensei and Seina sensei share their thoughts about MLC School below.

– Natasha Collins 
Assistant Head of Department – Languages

Momoka Shibairi

Hello I’m Momoka. I’m a student at Kyoto Prefectural University. I major in British literature and English Education for High School students in Japan. I live in Shiga, Japan. Shiga is famous for Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. I like reading novels, manga, and singing a song. I am so happy if you say hello to me when you find me at school. Nice to meet you! 

Seina Bamba

Hello, I’m Seina. I am from Saitama, Japan. I am currently a student at Chuo University in Tokyo. I am studying Sociology. I am interested in exploring how people’s interactions and social structures shape our everyday lives. In my free time, I enjoy watching dramas, going shopping, and exercising. 

I am very glad to have the opportunity to meet you guys here, and I look forward to learning from this experience.

Q.1 What do you find most surprising about the way Japanese is taught in Australia compared to Japan?

Momoka: I was surprised at the dialogues in the student’s textbook. In general, when Japanese students learn a language like English, they remember grammar at first so that there is no sentence that they cannot understand in a dialog. On the other hand, students in Australia start with a dialog, so I thought it would be hard to consider while they read it. However, the campaign to have the Japanese studying style adjust to overseas styles like here is beginning.

Seina: I’m most surprised that students in Australia actively participate in Japanese classes. Unlike in Japan, where classes often focus on listening and writing, here students join in conversations, games, and cultural activities, which makes learning much more engaging.

Q.2 What are your favorite Japanese words or phrases, and why?

Momoka: It is “なんとかなる” (nantokanaru). It means, like, “Everything will be OK.” I tend to worry about everything I would do, but this word makes my mind better. I think this is a key to things going well.

Seina: My favourite Japanese word is “いただきます“（itadakimasu). I like this word because it expresses gratitude not only for the food but also for the people and efforts behind it. Saying it has become such an important habit in daily life that if I don’t say it before eating, I feel something is missing.

Q.3 What advice would you give to students who are just starting to learn Japanese?

Momoka: I know Japanese is a complicated language because of letters, grammar, and so on. However, Japan has lots of traditional cultures, and people cherish them. You can also about Japanese culture through language. Your curiosity about Japan and its culture must be a motivation to keep studying. Have fun!

Seina: Japanese is difficult at first, but I recommend focusing on enjoying the learning process. There are fun ways to learn it. You can watch anime, listen to Japanese music, or try simple conversations with friends. Enjoying the language in daily life makes learning easier and more effective.

Q.4 What motivated you to become an assistant and intern in a Japanese language program abroad?

Momoka: I am interested in education and how student learn best. While learning about education in Japan, I have become curious about the differences of school life between Japan and abroad. Therefore, this opportunity is precious for me.

Seina: I was motivated to become an assistant and intern in a Japanese language program abroad to grow personally and professionally. Helping students learn Japanese allows me to improve my communication skills, gain international experience, and learn more about different cultures.

Q.5 What do you miss about home, and what have you enjoyed the most about your time in Australia?

Momoka: I really miss the taste of miso soup. I regret not bringing Japanese cuisine to Australia. Even so, I enjoy my life in Sydney. I bought a manga (in English) at the bookstore and started reading in my spare time. It is interesting to see how the Japanese phrases I know are translated into English. 

Seina: I really miss soaking in a onsen (hot bath). In Australia I can only take showers, so I miss the relaxing feeling of a warm bath. I’ve enjoyed sightseeing the most in Sydney, it is really beautiful here. I loved visiting famous places, seeing nature and animals, and the restaurants in Circular Quay were amazing.

Click on gallery to view full images

Year 7

Well done Year 7. Last week at the Athletics carnival, Year 7 students were fantastic! The girls had amazing attendance and participation, and my highlight was watching every student in the grade sprint, skip or dance with friends down the 100m straight. The Year 7s engaged with their House themes and it was all in all, a fabulous day.

Year 7 have had another busy week with their Year 11 Big Sisters and Year 10 Peer Support leaders, continuing to build on their vertical connections. In our Year 7 meeting this week, we discussed a concept about friendships and I have challenged Year 7 to enact this in their day to day lives. It is about creating horseshoes and not circles in their friendship groups. It shows others that to truly be inclusive, you have space for more friends in your ‘group’. We also discussed being a part of many groups and that friendships are for each person alone to make decisions about and are not something that someone else can dictate for you. I encouraged you to chat about friendships and broad networks with your daughter over the weekend.

Have a wonderful weekend and please reach out to your daughters Luminary or teachers if you have any questions.

– Claire White
Head of Year 7

Photos: Booralee and Leawarra groups during Big Sister Little Sister

Click on gallery to view full images

Year 8

Last Friday, we celebrated our Annual athletics carnival which was a tremendous success, and I could not be prouder of the way our Year 8 students conducted themselves. The sense of camaraderie and school spirit was evident throughout the day. I was especially impressed by the willingness of every student to get involved and give all activities a red-hot go, regardless of their athletic ability. Whether sprinting down the track, giving their best in field events, or cheering on their peers from the sidelines, our Year 8s embodied the true spirit of participation. Their positive attitude and encouragement of one another made the day memorable for all.

On Monday of this week during our Luminary time, we continued our journey with the Lean In Girls Leadership Program. The girls engaged in an insightful activity where they explored the connections between their actions and their values. It is always great to hear feedback from the luminaries that the students are thoughtful in their reflections and the open discussions that followed. Activities like these are invaluable in helping our students develop a strong sense of self and the confidence to lead with integrity, both now and in the future.

Thursday marked our school’s observance of R U OK? Day, an important reminder of the need to look out for one another and foster a supportive community. During Luminary, students discussed how to recognise signs that a friend might be struggling, and we explored some practical ways to check in with each other. This included questions such as: What are some signs that a friend might be having a tough time? How would you approach and check in on a mate if you were concerned? How could you start a conversation and ask, “R U OK?” Our Year 8 students engaged with these discussions thoughtfully, demonstrating both empathy and maturity.

Sadly, in the last couple of weeks, it has come to my attention that there has been some ‘mean girl’ behaviour within the year group. This includes actions such as social isolation, mean looks and gestures, targeted posts online, and general nastiness. During our year meeting this week, I addressed the importance of kindness and reminded the students that while people may forget the words spoken, they never forget how those words made them feel. I encourage you to continue this conversation at home with your daughters, emphasising the importance of choosing their actions wisely and considering the impact on others, both in person and online.

Only one more week of term to go and then we can all enjoy a very much deserved break and reset.

– Kate Schurch
Acting Head of Year 8

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Year 9

Year 9 Service Opportunity – Days for Girls

On Wednesday, Year 9 had the opportunity to hear a presentation by the charity Days for Girls International. The students heard from two volunteers about the work Days for Girls does to eliminate the stigma and limitations associated with menstruation so that women and girls have improved health, education and livelihoods around the world. To date, they have reached over 3.5 million women and girls with their life-changing menstrual health kits.

Year 9 can continue to be involved and support this initiative by donating supplies or by creating menstrual health kits through the MLC School craft club. This club runs during lunch on Wednesday in SCG06.

A new wellbeing initiative – My Mind Check

A reminder about My Mind Check – a new wellbeing initiative that we are implementing this year.

My Mind Check was developed by youth mental health experts at Macquarie University (Sydney) with input from educators and students across Australia, and meets strict Commonwealth privacy and security standards.

Students will be invited to participate in a 20-minute check-in session here at MLC School, under the supervision of a staff member. They will use a computer or tablet to respond to age-appropriate questions about how they’re feeling and can skip any questions they don’t want to answer. 

My Mind Check is not a clinical assessment of mental health, but instead offers insights to help us better understand the wellbeing of each student and our collective school community. We’ll follow up if your daughter reports any areas of need and invite you to explore helpful information and resources at mymindcheck.org.au any time. You may also visit the website to learn more about My Mind Check, or watch this video. 

Check-in sessions for students in Year 9 will commence in Week 1 of Term 4. We will be meeting with Year 9 regarding this new tool over the next few weeks.

A reminder to please complete the online consent to participate in My Mind Check found here, if you have not done so already.

Your support is appreciated. Please reach out to Andrew Taylor, Deputy Head of Senior School – Wellbeing, with any questions.

– Emily Marsh
Head of Year 9

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Year 10

Year 10 PASS Update

Year 11

This week has been a significant one for the Year 11 cohort, culminating in the exciting announcement of our new 2026 Leadership team. We are thrilled to welcome such a dedicated and inspiring group of leaders who will guide us through the upcoming year. Reflecting on the week’s events, from the informative evening on Wednesday to the engaging Sony Camp training day on Thursday, it’s clear that our students are well-prepared and enthusiastic about the future. We look forward to the many achievements and milestones that lie ahead as we continue to support and uplift each other.

Year 11 Retreat

We are looking forward to our Year 11 Retreat in Week 1 of Term 4. Medications were due to the Health Centre by Monday 15 September. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Students would appreciate receiving short notes from their parents, to be read alongside affirmations from peers and teachers. You may email your note to your daughter through me, or, if you prefer confidentiality, send it in a sealed envelope via your daughter or deliver it to front reception before the term concludes.

The Year 12 2026 HSC and IB Information Evening

The Year 12 2026 HSC and IB Information Evening was held on Wednesday 10 September 2025.

You can view the presentation slides on the current Year 11 page in Omnia here. 

Year 12 2026 Booklist

A reminder that the 2026 Year 12 booklist is now available for online ordering.

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

School Code: 792V

To ensure timely delivery, we recommend placing orders promptly by Friday 19 September. 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 booklist, please kindly contact the relevant subject Head of Department. For any issues with ordering online, please kindly contact Campion directly. 

Booklists are also available via Omnia.

Year 12 HSC 2026 Booklist

Year 12 IB 2026 Booklist

Important Dates

• Year 11 Production: Friday 12 September
• Dance Showcase: Saturday 13 September and Sunday 14 September
• Last day of Term 3: Friday 19 September

– Angela Renwick
Head of Year 11

Legal Studies Workshop

This week, Year 11 and Year 12 Legal Studies students took part in a workshop run by Michelle Ericol, a solicitor from Legal Aid NSW. Legal Aid NSW is a state-wide independent government agency that provides accessible and effective legal services to disadvantaged individuals and young people across New South Wales.

The workshop gave the students a practical understanding of the youth criminal justice system in NSW and covered the criminal jurisdiction of the Children’s Court, diversionary and sentencing options and current issues. These areas relate directly to outcomes for the Year 12 Legal Studies course.

The workshops sparked some great conversations amongst the students as they reflected on the diverse career paths that are available in social justice and the law, and considered the impact and significance of the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Youth Justice Centres.

Thank you to Legal Aid NSW for providing this fantastic learning opportunity.

– Emily Marsh
Teacher

Click on gallery to view full images

Year 12

Another week and a busy program as we prepare for the final week of Year 12 2025.

The end of the academic year brings some mixed emotions for the girls, which is natural. The Health Centre and Counselling team presented a wonderful talk to the girls this week on Life After Year 12. They received clear advice and guidance about self-care and their rights as medical consumers as young adults. The message from our Counselling team was also about self-care but the importance of having a growth mindset, practising gratitude and seeing the positives in life. Embracing challenges and the idea of not being defined by your ATAR was also explored in depth. Resources on health services were shared, including apps that the girls can use to deregulate and manage their emotions under stress. Embracing opportunities was also another key factor in helping them move forward into life outside school.

Jo Cilia, our Head of Careers and Pathways and Nicole Massara, our VET Coordinator, are very busy dealing with applications and late requests for interviews. Jo has sent a reminder to all Year 12 girls again about key deadlines and due dates for applications.

Final Luminary celebrations took place today and apart from lots of sugar, Year 12 reflected on their time together and share their dreams for next year. A big thanks to Year 12 Prescott and Natasha Collins for allowing me to gatecrash their Luminary time! Another ‘last’ of the week was the final Captain’s meeting, organised by the 2025 School Captain, Marirose Giann.

Please keep an eye on emails as important updates on next week’s events are published.

These school holidays, take control of your study with our Year 12 Study Camp being held from Monday 22 September to Friday 26 September. Please read more about this in this newsletter and on Omnia

From my perspective – uniform next week needs to be perfect. Please check the following with your daughters:

• skirt length (on or just above the knee) and alter if necessary. 
• jewellery – one stud or sleeper in the middle lobe of each ear.
• shirt top buttons – the Uniform shop sells extras for those who need a replacement
• hair is to be tied up with MLC School or blue ribbons
• minimal makeup, all nail polish and eyelash extensions must be removed.
• for the Wednesday and Thursday assemblies, sheer black stockings are required.

If you have any questions, please email on sconnolly1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au or call me on 02 8741 9736.

– Sharon Connolly
Head of Year 12

Year 12 September School Holiday – Study Camp Timetable

These school holidays, take control of your study with our Year 12 Study Camp being held from Monday 22 September to Friday 26 September. The Study Camp will provide a structured, supportive, and flexible environment to help you study effectively in preparation for your final HSC Examinations in Term 4. While Study Camp is not compulsory, you are strongly encouraged to attend any or all of the sessions that will best support your revision and exam preparation.

During the first week of the holidays, you will have access to:

• A dedicated exam hall available for you to sit practice exams under exam conditions

• Working independently or with friends collaboratively

• Getting support from tutors

• Accessing targeted faculty workshops

Examination Practice Sessions

ILC3 will be set up as a formal examination room from 9am to 12pm each day during the first week of the holidays. You will need to bring along a printed past paper of your choice. This will give you the opportunity to practise in a setting similar to your Final Examinations.

MLC School Library and Level 3 Open Space

The Library opening hours are 9am to 3.30pm each weekday throughout the holidays for individual study. Level 3 Open Space in the Senior Centre will be made available to you from 12pm to 4pm each day of the first week of the holidays (Monday 22 September to Friday 26 September) so that you can work with your friends to study collaboratively.

Subject Workshops

Teachers will be holding various subject workshops throughout the holiday. Some Departments have decided to set work for students, rather than hold workshops. The schedule for the workshops running in the first week of the holidays can be found on the following pages.

Tutors

The Study Hub+ tutors will be available on the Senior Centre Level 3 Open Space each afternoon of the first week of holidays. Students are welcome to seek help from these tutors.

Expectations

• Sign in and out at the Senior Centre each day of the first week of the holidays. Sign in and out at the Main Office during Week 2 and Week 3 of the holidays.

• You must sign in and out to grab yourself some lunch as the cafeteria won’t be open. If you choose to leave the School, there will be no additional supervision, so you must be vigilant over your personal safety and that of accompanying friends.

• Respect staff and students who will also be using the shared spaces.

• Supervision is provided by Library staff, external tutors and staff onsite and you must only work within the designated areas. Students found in unsupervised rooms will be asked to return to their study spaces. More information is available in the Year 12 section in Omnia.

This is your chance to practise, prepare and power up before your final exams! DON’T MISS IT!

– Elisa Scala
Deputy Head of Senior School – Academic

From the Principal

I am delighted to introduce and extend our warmest congratulations to the 2026 Student Leadership Team, who have been chosen after canvassing the opinion of the student body and a two-stage interview process.

Their selection is a testament to their character and the respect they have earned among their fellow students.

School Captain – Anisha Sivagurunathan
Vice-Captain – Year 6 to Year 9 – Sophie Winnall
Vice-Captain – Year 10 to Year 12 – Crystal Huang

The Arts Captain – Seraphine McNamara

• Crew Captain– Lilah Randall
• Dance Captain – Isabella Townsend
• Design Captain – Indiana Hodgkinson
• Drama Captain – Emma Sullivan
• Visual Arts Captain – Maxine Hawkins

Co-Curricular Captain – Elena Tulloch

• Adventure Captain – Olivia Ebel
• Debating Captain – Amelia Tchan

Community and Round Square Captain – Emily Wu

• Chapel Captain – Ella Hu
• Diversity Captain – Rhiti Bhatta
• Environment Captain – Eri Takeshita
• Wellbeing Captain – Laila Chopra

Music Captain – Juah Hyun

Scholar Captain – Anna Obaid

• Literary Captain – Siena Jury
• Mind Challenge Captain – Allegra Chiang
• STEM Captain – Kathleen Chrun

School Spirit Captain – Grace Farrow

Sport Captain – Abby Coxsedge

House Captains and Vice-Captains

• Abbeythorpe Captain – Yuuki Onuma
• Abbeythorpe Vice-Captain – Haegan Sitou
• Booralee Captain – Eve Ireland
• Booralee Vice-Captain – Jemima Hardy
• Churunga Captain – Tilly Ackland
• Churunga Vice-Captain – Clementine Hendriks
• Leawarra Captain – Evelyn Kerr
• Leawarra Vice-Captain – Sienna Christodoulou
• Lester Captain – Yoyo Wu
• Lester Vice-Captain – Hannah Shortus
• Mooramoora Captain – Zoya Rezainia
• Mooramoora Vice-Captain – Sienna Dodd
• Prescott Captain – Sasha Murray
• Prescott Vice-Captain – Annette Benn
• Sutton Captain – Eve Parker
• Sutton Vice-Captain – Isabel Garner
• Wade Captain – Han Nguyen
• Wade Vice-Captain – Tess Wright
• Whitley Captain – Serena Farley
• Whitley Vice-Captain – Dina Saeed

We look forward to witnessing the positive impact they will make throughout the coming year as they lead with enthusiasm, integrity, and a strong sense of School spirit.

Importantly, I also acknowledge and thank the 2025 student leadership team who have made their mark on the School and the students over the past 12 months.

– Lisa Moloney
Principal

New Director of Sport for MLC School

Following the temporary appointment of Scott Carpenter and Sarah Jauncey as Acting Co-Directors of Sport earlier this year, I am delighted to announce the following permanent appointments:

• Scott Carpenter has been appointed as our new  Director of Sport, he will conclude his role as Head of Senior School Operations to focus solely on sport at the commencement of the 2026 year.
• Sarah Jauncey will return to her role as Director of Experiential Learning in 2026 with the addition of oversight of sport included in the breadth of her role. Along with other co-curricular activities, Sarah will ensure consistency and oversee strategic planning for activities beyond the curriculum.

For the remainder of 2025 Sarah and Scott will remain in the current Co-Director of Sport model.

Congratulations to both Sarah and Scott on their new/ expanded roles, we thank them for their excellent leadership of the Sports department to date and are excited to see what comes next! Additionally, in the coming weeks, we will be advertising a new role: a permanent full time, Assistant Director of Sport, please share this exciting opportunity with your networks!

In other sport news, I would also like to share that Lauren O’Shea will be leaving the Sports department to take on a new opportunity with Toolbox Education as NSW representative at the end of term. We wish Lauren all the best for this exciting new opportunity and thank her for her contributions to the Sport department. Good Luck Lauren, always here if you need! (netball fans will understand this reference!)

– Melissa Boyd
Deputy Principal

140 year countdown has begun

Yesterday marked 140 days until the start of Term 1, 2026, the School’s 140th year. We are counting down the days with a social media (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) post for each day. They are a mix of history, fun facts, trivia and ‘on this day’, all with some great pics.

Please take a look at these (and like them!) when you can. You’re sure to find them a fascinating insight and provide a perspective on how things were and what they are like now. For instance, today’s post features a pic of our first student leadership team from 1914.

Throughout 2026, we will be celebrating the School’s 140 years of excellence in girls’ education. We thank Year 6 student Mia Li for her winning logo design that has inspired our branding for the year.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mlcschoolnsw

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MLCSchool

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/school/mlc-schoolsydney

– Michele Dunn
Head of Marketing and Community Relations

HSC Dance Excellence Recognised with Callback Nominations

Congratulations to all our Year 12 HSC dancers who completed their practical Examinations Monday 11 August. Callback is a NESA selection of outstanding performances and projects from HSC Dance students. Congratulations to the HSC Dancers who have received a Callback nomination.

This year the following Year 12 students received a nomination:

Kristina Bitar
Core Composition 

Erin Clowes
Core Performance
Core Composition
Major Study Performance

The Dance team is extremely proud of the 2025 HSC Dance cohort and all that they have achieved so far within their HSC journey. We wish all the girls the best of luck for their final written examination on the 7 November.

– Kate Drady
DDE Teacher

– Jenna Skepper
Dance Coordinator

Senior School House Athletics carnival – Photos Available

Senior School House Athletics carnival

View Facebook post here

A Message from the Health Centre

The Health Centre would like to mention a few things to keep in mind for the remainder of Term 3.

Illnesses are always going to be circulating in the community. Currently in NSW, Influenza A and B are prevalent in the community. We please ask that you remain vigilant and if your daughter is unwell, please keep her home and resting. Health and Wellbeing are paramount and the key ingredient to academic success. This website has a great reference guide on when to stay home from school.

If you are ever in doubt, please call the Health Centre on (02) 8741 3134.

As a general rule of thumb, students should not attend school unless they have cleared 24 hours of symptoms such as:

• Fever
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting

This also includes no use of medications that may mask symptoms in the 24-hour time frame.

Medications

• If your daughter takes a regular prescribed medication (eg: ADHD, Anti-Anxiety or Antidepressants) please update the Health Centre. No student should be carrying prescribed medication on their person unless it is an essential Critical Emergency medication such as an Adrenaline injector (Epipen)/Asthma Puffer.
• If medications need to be taken by your daughter during school hours (8am–3.30pm), please adhere to the following:

1. Provide a letter from the prescribing doctor, detailing the medication and dose.
2. Provide the medication in its original labelled packaging (box or bottle).
3. Fill out the Medication Authority form.

• If your daughter takes a regular medication, we strongly encourage you to update the School as there are certain medications that are contraindicated or have side effects, so this best helps us to support your daughter if she were to present to the Health Centre.
• If your daughter takes a regular prescribed medication and there is a camp, all S4/S8 medications are to be brought in the week prior to the camp departure date in a Webster Pack. This is supplied by your pharmacy and usually requires >48 hours notice.

Updating Medical Details

If there has been a change in your daughter’s medical history, please update the Health Centre via your Omnia dashboard/my students. scroll down to Key Information/Medical Information/View-Edit. This is an imperative process for MLC School to maintain safety both onsite and offsite. We strongly encourage this be completed at time of diagnosis or yearly if a general update.

As always, if any queries please contact the Health Centre on (02) 8741 3134 or mlcnurse@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au.

– MLC School Health Centre

Uniform Shop Extended Trading Hours, Summer Dress Fittings and Sale Items

Summer Dress Fitting Appointments Now Available

The MLC School Uniform Shop is taking appointments Term 4 summer dress fittings. 

Students who need fitting, please make a 15 minute appointment.

Appointments can be made online by clicking here.

Extended Holiday Trading Hours

The MLC School Uniform Shop will close for the school holidays.

• Friday 19 September 2025 at 4pm – Closing
• Friday 10 October 2025 at 9am–3pm – Reopening
• Monday 13 October 2025, 9am–3pm
• Tuesday 14 October 2025 – Normal Trading Hours resume
• • Monday to Tuesday, 8am–4pm
  • Wednesday – Closed
  • Thursday to Friday – 8am–4pm

Online Store

Enjoy the convenience of online shopping. Orders will be filled out when the store is next open. Click here for online store.

The following items are currently on sale via the online store.

Fitting Appointment

Full uniform fittings are strictly by appointment only. Click here to book an appointment.

A Reminder on Term 4 Bus Registrations

Term 4 bus registrations are now open.

Parents/carers wishing their daughters to use the MLC School buses should pay for Term 4 travel ahead of the start of the term.

Bus registration for Term 4 needs to be finalised by Thursday 9 October 2025. Students who are not registered and fully paid will not be admitted onto the bus. 

Please contact  Main Reception with any questions.

Unfortunately, where payment has not been received, girls will be refused travel.

Click here to register and pay

‘Emotion Coaching and Regulation – Parenting Seminar

Burwood Council has advised a parent seminar that might be of interest.

Date: Saturday 20 September 2025  
Time: 2pm – 5pm (Afternoon tea provided) 
Venue: Baptist Community Church Burwood

23 Conder Street, Burwood NSW 2134

During the Emotion Coaching and Regulation seminar for families, Michelle Cuthbertson, (of mc consultancy) an experienced and qualified parenting coach and attachment specialist, explains the connection between children’s emotions, their behaviour and the science of the brain and how this knowledge provides an opportunity for adults to reconsider their response to children experiencing heightened emotions.

Participants will be offered some strategies to:

• Increase a child’s emotional self-awareness
• Support them to respond to their emotions in socially appropriate ways; and 
• Strengthen their internal capacity to cope with life’s challenges and difficulties, now and into the future.

Parents, grandparents  and other significant adults in a child’s life are welcome to attend.

Cost: *$10 for adult, $15 for 2 adults from the same Family. Child minding available.

Registration via website Click Here

Payment by EFT prior to the seminar. Details will be provided once registered.

Registration closes : Saturday 13 September 2025

Contact: Dilan 0430 296 833 for more information or email hello@bccb.com.au

*If you need financial assistance to attend the seminar, please let us know.

Delving into the research during our PLT Workshop

This week marked our third Professional Learning Team (PLT) session, where teams continued to engage deeply with their inquiry focus. The session was designed to build collective efficacy by strengthening our understanding of the research underpinning each team’s puzzle of practice, and by exploring how baseline evidence can be purposefully used to inform, guide, and evaluate professional inquiry.

Learning Intention

To deepen our understanding of the research underpinning our puzzle of practice and to explore how baseline evidence can be purposefully used to inform, guide, and evaluate our professional inquiry.

Success Criteria

• I can retrieve and reflect on my team’s unpacking of the puzzle of practice using visual or written strategies.

• I can engage with educational research using a structured note-taking routine.

• I can identify and document baseline evidence that supports our inquiry focus.

• I can contribute to team reflection by sharing insights, challenges and possible strategies for implementation.

Session Highlights

We began with a moment of joy, a two-minute reflective prompt designed to break the ice and centre our minds for learning. Teachers were invited to consider a number of ideas connected to teaching and learning. This small but intentional practice aligns with research on teacher wellbeing and the role of positive emotion in cognitive engagement (Fredrickson, 2001).

Our Do Now activity focused on retrieval practice, a high-impact strategy that supports long-term retention and transfer of learning (Agarwal & Bain, 2019). Teachers revisited key terminology and metalanguage from Week 5, reinforcing their understanding of their team’s puzzle of practice.

The core of the session centred on engaging with educational research. Using a guided note-taking scaffold, teachers read purposefully and actively, categorising their insights into:

• Tried and tested strategies

• Exciting and new strategies

• Ideas worth sharing with another PLT

• Strategies that raised questions or concerns

This structured approach supported metacognition and ensured that reading was not passive, but instead a springboard for professional dialogue and innovation.

We also introduced the concept of baseline evidence, drawing on the work of Dr. Simon Breakspear. A modelled example illustrated how baseline data can serve as a meaningful starting point for a learning sprint, highlighting both existing practices and missed opportunities. This aligns with Breakspear’s emphasis on using evidence to drive agile, iterative improvement cycles in schools.

Teachers reflected on how baseline evidence can:

• Illuminate current practice

• Identify gaps or inconsistencies

• Provide a benchmark for measuring impact

• Support targeted, responsive teaching strategies

Throughout the session, teams engaged in rich discussion, sharing insights, challenges and emerging strategies. The collaborative energy in the room reflected a strong culture of professional trust and a shared commitment to improving student learning through inquiry and evidence.

Our workshop sessions are designed in Canvas to demonstrate best practice in e-Learning and each PLT journey is being captured via Padlet.

– Amy Murphy
Director of Professional Practice

From the Director of Learning Enhancement

Stage 3 2025 Ethics Olympiad

Thank you to James Adams, High Potential Learning Leader, for supporting our Stage 3 students to participate in Ethics Olympiad this week and sharing your reflections about the day:

‘Our Year 5 and Year 6 students proudly participated in the 2025 Junior School Ethics Olympiad, a collaborative event that brought together young minds from across schools across Australia to explore real-world philosophical problems. The Olympiad encouraged students to thoughtfully consider multiple perspectives and defend positions they genuinely believed to be morally sound.

‘Through six cases – including topics such as animal empathy, online surveillance in schools, and the ethics of video game cheating – students grappled with complex questions around morality, justice, privacy, trust, and civic responsibility. In doing so, they examined deep ethical concepts such as consequentialism, innate human rights, cultural relativism, and the social contract that dictates under what conditions individuals conform to society’s laws.

‘The event fostered critical thinking, respectful dialogue, and ethical awareness; empowering students to develop the skills to become thoughtful, principled citizens of the future. We look forward to seeing Year 7 and Year 8 in action next term!’

– James Adams
High Potential Learning Leader

Click on gallery to view full images

Horizons Program: Year 7 and Year 8

The Learning Enhancement Department is pleased to announce that Horizons will be launched in Term 4 beginning with students in Year 7 and Year 8.  The MLC School Horizons program will serve as a dedicated space for students to engage in deep learning experiences beyond the standard curriculum. Key components of the program may include:

• Advanced academic sessions based around university-style learning experiences
• Specialised preparation for upcoming external competitions students
• Mentoring and check-ins to support student growth and achievement 

Term 4 topic: Introduction to Psychology (using the PSY 101 “Introductions to Psychology” textbook from Princeton University)

Email your expression of interest to led@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au before the end of the term. Include your name, year group and the reason you would like to be part of this program during Term 4. Please note there is a limit on places for Term 4.

– Stephanie Dimitrelis
Director of Learning Enhancement

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+ – 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

Study Hub+ Enrolments

Study Hub+ is MLC School’s structured, pay-per-use after-school study support program for students in Year 7 to Year 12. Sessions run Monday to Thursday, from 3.30pm to 6pm, on Level 1 of the Senior Centre.​

Sessions will continue to run Monday to Thursday from 3.30pm to 6pm on Level 1 of the Senior Centre. 

Please use the form below to nominate the day(s) your daughter will attend next term. You may select all Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays, or choose specific dates on a weekly basis.

Nomination Form

Led by Program Coordinator Ela Huber and supported by a team of knowledgeable mentors, all of whom are pre-service teachers. Study Hub+ offers subject-specific assistance across a wide range of disciplines, including English, Mathematics, Sciences, History, Legal Studies, Economics, Geography, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE), and Drama.​

As we approach the end of Term 3, we are now taking enrolments for Study Hub+ in Term 4. Sessions will continue to run

Monday to Thursday from 3.30pm to 6pm on Level 1 of the Senior Centre. 

Please use the form below to nominate the day(s) your daughter will attend next term. You may select all Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays, or choose specific dates on a weekly basis.

Term 4 Nomination Form

Program Overview:

• Schedule: Monday to Thursday, 3.30pm–6pm
• Location: Level 1, Senior Centre
• Cost: $25 per session, charged to your daughter’s account at the end of term
• Environment: Phone-free zone to minimise distractions which will allow students to build good study habits.
• Support: A minimum of two mentors per session, rotating to provide diverse subject expertise.
• Additional Assistance: Mentors can assist with study plans, exam preparation techniques, and provide verbal feedback on drafts.​

To foster consistent study habits, families are encouraged to register on a termly basis. However, weekly bookings remain available via Omnia and the newsletter. Students will receive a reminder email at around 1.30pm 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, you will not be charged.​

For any questions or further information, please contact Program Coordinator Ela Huber, ehuber@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au

Important messages

It’s been another exciting week of sport at MLC School! Last Saturday, three of our netball teams took to the courts in the ERNA grand finals, with two teams securing well-deserved victory. The atmosphere was electric, thanks not only to the players but also to the wonderful support from families, staff, and students. Congratulations to all ERNA netball teams and coaches for an outstanding season, and a special thank you to the team managers and umpires for their dedicated support throughout.

Our Rowing teams also made waves at the Nepean Head competition last weekend, showcasing determination and teamwork on the water. Well done to everyone who participated. Any student in Year 7 or Year 8 who is interested in trying out Rowing, our Rowing coaches will be running a ‘try’ session in the School pool on Monday at lunch. Students need to come to the pool at lunchtime wearing PE uniform. They will be able to get into a boat in the pool and give Rowing a go!

Meanwhile, our talented snow sports competitors braved challenging weather at the national championships in Mt Buller. Despite cold temperatures and low visibility, the MLC team showed exceptional resilience. Congratulations to Elise Shen (Year 3), Marina Chen (Year 4),Olivia Li (Year 4), Holly Skowno (Year 9), and snow sports captain Zaz Tiglao (Year 12) on their achievements.

Looking ahead, this weekend promises more action as our Water polo teams play in the finals tonight of the Term 3 MLC School invitational competition. Our IGSA netball, hockey, football, and basketball teams head into the semi-finals, and our gymnastics squad takes on the Gymnastics NSW State Clubs Championships. On Sunday our tennis teams play in the semi-finals of the inter district competition. Let’s show our school spirit—bring your family and friends and join us in cheering for our teams. We’ll have the blue, yellow, and pink zinc ready for face painting to get everyone in the MLC School spirit. MLC on three!

– Acting Directors of Sport

Click on gallery view full images 

Play of the Week

Each week, we celebrate an MLC School team or player who exemplifies our core values: respect, courage, compassion, or growth—whether on the field, at training, or during competition.

This week’s Play of the Week goes to our MLC School Snowsports team, who demonstrated incredible courage, resilience, and determination as they competed in the challenging conditions of Mt Buller. Despite difficult weather and a demanding course, our team persevered and embodied the true spirit of MLC School. A special thank you also goes to the parents who braved the elements to cheer on their daughters and support the entire team. Well done to all!

– Acting Directors of Sport

Click on gallery to view full images 

Around the grounds

Football

On Saturday 6 September, the MLC02 football team emerged victorious against Ascham with a score of 7-0. While this outcome may appear straightforward, the journey to achieve this result has been anything but easy.The MLC02 team is a blend of Year 7 and Year 8 students who have forged a strong bond over the past several weeks. Their season commenced with a 0-5 defeat. For the subsequent next four weeks, the team was denied opportunities to play due to persistent inclement weather, resulting in field closures.When they were finally able to take the field again a week ago, they suffered a narrow 0-1 loss.So after seven Saturdays, the team was winless!

Whilst the easy path would have been to simply lose interest and motivation, to their immense credit, the team members consistently demonstrated their commitment by attending training sessions every Tuesday morning (from 6.45am!) They enthusiastically embraced the training sessions, demonstrating their individual and collective development. It was evident that their efforts warranted a commensurate reward on the scoreboard at some point!

This all came together by their performance against Ascham.

Our goalkeepers were solid. The back four played with positional intelligence, skill and determination. Our midfield showed cohesion and creativity, and our forwards constantly posed a formidable threat to the opposition’s defence. With some great teamwork, and individual brilliance across the park, the players (and spectators) were treated to a polished display. MLC School had nine shots on target against just one from Ascham. So, with an incredible 78% success rate. The victory was the collective achievement of the entire squad through their unwavering dedication to training and efforts on match day. 

– Coach Brad

Snowsports at Nationals

This past week, our MLC School Snowsports team competed in the pinnacle of the Interschools Snowsports Competition at Nationals in Mt Buller, Victoria. The 2025 Australian Interschool Snowsports Championships gave us the opportunity to compete against students from across Australia. MLC School was proudly represented with our highest number of National qualifiers ever. The National qualifiers this year included: Elise Shen (Year 3), Marina Chen (Year 4), Olivia Li (Year 4), Holly Skowno (Year 9), Noelle Foo (Year 9), Haegan Sitou (Year 11), and Zaz Tiglao (Year 12).

During this event, our skills were tested with significantly more challenging courses and competitors. Throughout the week, the weather was less than ideal, with limited visibility, strong winds and rough snow conditions. Despite the challenging conditions and the difficult courses, our girls showed bravery and persistence, completing all their races. Our team competed across all 3 disciplines of skiing, cross country skiing and snowboarding. Overall, MLC School finished 13th in the Primary Girls Schools category, an incredible achievement considering our significantly smaller team. Individually, Elise Shen (Year 4), Holly Skowno (Year 9) and Zaz Tiglao (Year 12), all placed in the Top 30. While the Division 5 team (Elise Shen, Marina Chen, and Olivia Li) placed 8th in Ski Cross, 9th in Cross Country and 12th in Alpine.

Beyond the incredible results on the slopes, the highlight of this year was the camaraderie formed this season. The team spirit this year was defined by genuine support and encouragement. Whether celebrating our achievements or supporting each other through the challenges, our athletes, teachers, and parents all contributed to the team’s unity and memorable experience. A huge thank you to our parents for giving us the opportunity to compete and supporting our participation in this demanding sport. Thank you to Ms Stephenson and Ms Bimson for their support this Snowsports season. 

– Zaz Tiglao (Year 12)
2025 Snowsports Captain

Netball Grand Finals

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of watching MLC04, MLC08, and MLC17 compete in their grand finals. Each game was incredibly close, with every team showing determination and fight for the premiership. Each team had a thrilling matchup, with MLC04 and MLC17 winning, becoming divisional premiers, while MLC08 put in a strong performance to finish as runners-up. Congratulations to all three teams on their outstanding efforts.

– Amelia McNamara (Year 12)
2025 Netball Captain

MLC04 Grand Final Win! 

MLC04 played in the grand final against the Gladesville Ravens for netball on Saturday afternoon. We went into the game undefeated and began strong, leading by 4 at quarter time. However, throughout the game, the score was very even, with a margin of 1-2 points most of the time. We eventually won the game in a very close and nerve-wracking finish for everybody, players, and supporters! We won by one goal 38-37 in the tightest, most stressful grand final we could’ve imagined. A huge thank you to our coach, Maria, for guiding us, to Ms O’Shea, netball coordinator and a big congratulations to our team!

– Elisha Brown (Year 10)

Tennis

Our players, Harlow Elsibai (Year 9), as well as Chiarah Nguyen (Year 8) and Yasmine Allam (Year 8), have made it to the semi-finals of the Interdistrict Wade & Neal Cup Division 3. After a challenging start to the competition, these girls have shown incredible determination and skill,  to reach this impressive stage.If you have some free time on Sunday 14th September 12.30pm, we would love for you to join us to support our players. Let’s come together and support Harlow, Chiarah, and Yasmine as they compete in the semi-finals. 

– Ludovic Catherine
Head of Tennis

Waterpolo

Our Water polo teams have been working hard in the Friday Night Water Polo competition, held at MLC School. This competition has allowed us to enjoy the sport we love and play with new and build friendships. MLC 01 has had a strong season playing against Ravens Wood for 3^rd place this Friday night. Alongside, MLC 02 has also had a solid season playing against Schols02 and hope to make it 3 wins from 3 against Schools. Both these teams have consistently put their best foot forward, showing determination and commitment throughout the season. Each game has brought immense improvement, with players approaching every match and training session with a positive attitude. With finals ahead, we are expecting some exciting, close games, and we look forward to a night of Finals Water Polo this Friday!

– Zoe Pollard (Year 11)

Basketball

MLC03

This season has been exciting and fun for our Basketball team. From the very first game, we showed determination, teamwork, and a great spirit. Our hard work has paid off, with the team enjoying every second of training and games.

What has made our team so special is not only our success on the scoreboard, but also the way we’ve come together as a team. Each player has stepped up whether it’s getting shots, putting in strong defence, or cheering from the bench, everyone has played their part.

Our coach has put in a lot of effort to make sure we do our best, he is very supportive and dedicated to our team! Thankyou Miss Stephenson for organising and always being there to watch our games.

As the season wraps up, one thing is clear our team has not only achieved great results but also built a legacy of teamwork, sportsmanship, and school pride. Thank you for an awesome season!

– Ruby Baker (Year 9)

Hockey

MLC01

This week was a tough game, despite being in seventh position, the opposition put up a good fight. They defended well and made it hard to get into the D. Fortunately, Abby Coxsedge (Year 11) eventually managed to weave her way into their defence and slot a ball into the bottom corner on her reverse stick. We then continued to hold on defensively for the rest of the game to win 1-0. We now go into our semifinal next week!

MLC02

This week we had a match where we played Ascham. The game started off in a 1-1 situation. As we got our first goal, the referee called a foul because an Ascham player had touched the ball with their foot. As a result, we were awarded a penalty stroke. For the stroke, Alannah Ng (Year 7) was positioned in the D to push the ball towards the goal, while the goalie defended, and all the other players from both teams were to remain outside the D. Ascham put pressure on our team with strong attacks, managing to cross the pitch with almost every hit.  Testing our defence repeatedly. In the second half, we were able to score a second goal by Olivia Pattison (Year 8), which put us in the winning position. Ascham tried to equalise the score, but we defended them well. In the end, the score was 2-1, with us winning. We will continue to play hard and strong, to see if we have a chance to win grand finals.

Rowing

Nepean Head 2025

Great work to Year 9,Year 10 and Year 11 for Racing at Nepean Head this weekend. The Race was 5000m long and the students all raced in either singles or doubles. It was Year 9s first time racing that distance! We displayed lots of good talent and a great start to head into the season. 

Eve Parker (Year 11) said: 

Nepean was such a great experience for all the seniors, and it gave us good distance training. Despite the cold, we had so much fun out on the Nepean River, and it has given us a lot of strength heading into the season. 

Maya McBrien (Year 9) said: 

The Year 9s were all very excited yet nervous for our first 5km race last weekend at the Nepean River. The race was a great opportunity to increase our confidence in singles and was such a great experience for future races.

Weekend Fixtures

Friday 12 September 2025

Saturday 13 September 2025

– Acting Directors of Sport

Follow MLC School Sport on Facebook

MLC School Sport has its own Facebook page. Please follow us for all sports updates and important information.

– Acting Directors of Sport

Year 5 Debaters Conclude a Successful Season

Last Friday, our team of 10 Year 5 debaters concluded two productive terms of training and participation in the annual IPSHA debating competition. Many students were new to debating this year, and Coach, Old Girl Anika Cuganesan (2023), notes that they have shown notable growth in both confidence and skill over the past two terms.

Congratulations to:

• Zoe Baker
• Florence Everitt
• Bartolina Iacono
• Hayley Lam
• Charlotte Lim
• Miao Miao Liu
• Emma Mo
• Avni Narang
• Vaani Narang
• Mia Yao Reeve

These students demonstrated exceptional focus and teamwork while representing MLC School in debating, marking what we anticipate to be the beginning of long and successful careers as MLC School debaters.

– Andrea Rowe
Oratory Coordinator