K-12
Principal’s Notes
Middle and Senior Years’ Heather Lamont Festival
This festival made me feel that I was living the magic of MLC! I offer my sincere congratulations to all involved.
What struck me most about the event was the girls’ encouragement of one another. This attitude can only be fostered in an environment where staff model these behaviours. How apt it therefore was to celebrate World Teachers’ Day on the same date. Teachers receiving cards of gratitude from our students was inspiring.
Boarders’ Breakfast
As a part of my inauguration events, it was a great pleasure to recently join the boarders for breakfast. Across the morning, these girls demonstrated why they are a credit to MLC and their families. Indeed, it is not always an easy task to engage your Principal in table conversation: I was therefore pleasantly surprised and delighted to enjoy the girls’ humour and thoughtfulness. Genuine, courteous and with a myriad of experiences and backgrounds, these students enrich our College community.
The Principal’s Vase
My Monday mornings have been brightened by the weekly visits of Year 6 girls. Charged with the task of filling my desk vase with creativity and colour, this initiative is helping me to meet and begin relationships with our Junior Years students. So far the centrepieces have included layers of coloured sand, pebbles, and freshly cut roses from home gardens; not to mention numerous sachets of green tea!
Demand for MLC Places Continues
Parents would be well aware of the ever increasing demand by our future families, and current families with siblings, for a place at Methodist Ladies’ College. This demand can be attributed to our experienced and dedicated staff, the outcomes we achieve for each girl and our welcoming and cohesive community.
Following a review of our admissions waitlist, we identified a number of families who have expressed interest in bringing their girls’ enrolment forward from Year 5, 2012 to Year 3, 2010. We are so pleased to be able to physically and practically accommodate this demand by offering an additional Year 3 class next year.
Our Junior Years staff are particularly excited about the prospect of welcoming new students to Barclay House and bringing us closer to our goal of offering two classes from Years 1 to Year 4 and four classes from Years 5 to Year 6. With a greater number of students in each year level, but not a greater number of students in each classroom, we can offer even more opportunities to your daughter throughout her MLC educational journey.
Recent communication to Year 9 parents
Last week I wrote to Year 9 parents regarding the prevention of anti-social behaviour among girls and boys of their peer group. In the interests of the positive development of our students, and transparency of communication, I did this to share details of my thinking regarding matters such as substance misuse. The points raised in this correspondence are relevant to all MLC families; as such, I have copied below key excerpts. Should this prompt queries, I encourage you, in the first instance, to contact your daughter’s Head of Year.
“…MLC aims to clearly establish with students the College’s position regarding the use of illegal substances via a holistic approach. This spans compulsory Health Education classes, Christian Education lessons, and our Tutorial Program which is part of MLC’s pastoral care system.
Students are informed in Health Education of the harmful side-effects and potential long-term implications of alcohol and substance misuse, and appropriate preventative behaviours to improve their personal safety in social settings.
At MLC, we aim to safeguard all girls against inappropriate behaviours that could cause physical, emotional, spiritual or social harm. The consequences of substance use go well beyond those adopted by the school; alcohol and illicit drug use by minors is a criminal offence, and should a student be involved in this behaviour, the College would be obliged to inform the appropriate authorities.
In order to establish a foundation for a mutually supportive approach to this complex issue, I hope to work in partnership with parents to instigate open conversations with the girls about safe and responsible behaviours and to clarify our expectations of them.
To support parents, the College’s CSA is currently working with our Middle Years staff to organise an information evening regarding a range of health and well-being matters for this age group. In addition, we advertised in past Wyverns details of the Generation Next seminar that explores the unique pressures, needs and healthcare and sociological challenges facing Australian adolescents and their parents.
An article in today’s Post newspaper (Grog talk for girls, 7 November 2009, page 9) illustrates substance misuse as a community-wide issue with adolescents. While Police officers have not addressed MLC students or their parents about this matter, as a proactive measure we would consider inviting them to speak to our girls in the future.”
Celebrating Staff
Human Resources Officer Lauren Webb was recently announced as a finalist in the Rising Star category of the 2009 Australian Human Resources Institute awards. Ms Webb’s success illustrates the College’s commitment to attracting and maintaining exemplary staff.
Since she commenced at MLC in November, 2007, Ms Webb has demonstrated continuous improvements in Human Resources practises at the school. Furthermore, she has taken on responsibility for Occupational Health and Safety, and has acted as a mentor for Senior Years students interested in a career in the field of Human Resources.
Ms Webb has made a significant impact on the organisational culture of the school by ensuring an effective, transparent, confidential and open-door HR department, which has in turn influenced staff morale. She is well-known for her friendly and caring personality.
The Festive Season!
Finally for this edition of Wyvern, I invite you to participate in building a College-wide Christmas wishing tree.
Next week you will receive a letter asking you as a family to let me know what you would wish for MLC. All wishes are welcome and will be hung on the tree in my office. It is my hope that every branch will be filled with ideas and the festive spirit spread across the school.
My motivation is to engage in the joys of this season, to have an opportunity to meet more members of the community and to open another avenue of communication between myself and all key stakeholders. Please join me in striving to reach the giddy heights of our eight foot wishing tree!
Per Ardua Ad Alta
Rebecca Cody, Principal
Music News
Music Results
Australian Music Examinations Board
Congratulations to the following students on their excellent results in the Australian Music Examinations Board examinations:
Lauren Fletcher, Year 4, Honours, Preliminary Grade Piano for Leisure
Lydia Drake-Brockman, Year 10, High Distinction, Fourth Grade Oboe
Special congratulations go to Esther Buckeridge, Year 10, who has been awarded her Associate Diploma (AMusA) in Violin.
Return of Music Instruments
Students who have hired musical instruments from the College are requested to return them to the Music Department at the conclusion of Music lessons in Week 7. If the instruments are needed for end-of-year Celebration performances, they should be left in the Music Department at the conclusion of those events. All instruments will be serviced at the commencement of the holidays. Students wishing to hire an instrument over the holidays are asked to contact Mrs May in the Music Department on 9383 0222.
Return of Music Books
All Music books belonging to the College should be returned to the Music Department for a stocktake by the end of Week 7.
Massed Choir for Speech Night
This year, the Massed Choir will be performing Beethoven’s Ode to Joy at the Middle and Senior School Celebrations. All Middle and Senior School students who enjoy singing, and would like to perform in the Massed Choir, are invited to register their names with Ms Scott in the Music Department. Students must be able make a commitment to attend rehearsals, which take place in Hadley Hall at 7.45am every Thursday morning. Any student who has a passion for singing is invited to join the choir; it is not necessary to be part of an existing choir.
Bobby Gallo, Director of Music
Host family sought
We are seeking a College family to host a student, Misuzu, from Kobe College, MLC’s sister school in Japan, for the second half of Term 2 in 2010 (five to six weeks). Misuzu will have two other host families throughout the Semester, while she studies at MLC.
Host families provide accommodation and meals, and generally introduce the student to the Australian way of life. They would also support the student in her daily experience at school. Misuzu will be placed in Year 11 and will attend school every day. After school time and weekends will be spent with host families. The exchange student should be treated as one of the family and be subject to the same rules and routines as your own daughter.
For more information, or to register you interest in being a host family next year, please contact Anne Ashby on aashby@mlc.wa.edu.au
Anne Ashby, Teacher of Japanese
Reading material for parents
A new edition is about to be released of the book, Queenbees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman, first released in 2002. The book covers peer pressures faced by teenage girls, and mother/daughter issues commonly encountered when girls are in their teens. The book will also cover text, facebook and twitter technology phenomena. Another interesting book for this age group is What’s happening to our girls? by Maggie Hamilton, about the media over-stimulating our young girls.
The Junior Years Library has copies of the book, Who made God? by Gauthier. This book would be helpful for parents interested in exploring tricky questions raised by children in the younger years!
Rev Anne Wright, Chaplain
MLC Community Prayer Meetings
Members of the MLC Community meet for prayer every second Friday (Day 5) in the Chaplaincy Office or the College Meeting Room at 8:45am for approximately one hour. All are welcome.
The final meeting date for Term 4 is 27 November.
The Chaplain's Office
Congratulations
- Clare Francis (Year 10) has qualified to be a member of the Australian Junior Team to contest the World Taekwondo Championships in Mexico in March, 2010.
- Elizabeth Parsons (Year 11) has won a scholarship to live and study in Germany for two months. At the end of November, Elizabeth will travel to Lübeck, in the north of Germany, where she will attend school and live with a German family. While in Germany, she will also have the opportunity to travel through the country with other scholarship winners. We wish Elizabeth every success and look forward to hearing about her adventures when she returns.
- Rachel Gower (Year 4) won the Caring for Myself and Others Award, 7 to 9 years category, of the Children’s Week 2009 Awards of Recognition, sponsored by Meerilinga.
- Eleanor Beilby (Year 11) is one of just six young actors Australia-wide to be selected to attend an intensive two-week drama workshop with the National Institute of Dramatic Art over summer.
- Year 11 students Claire Gardner and Cassidy Shelton achieved high distinctions in the 2009 Chemistry National Qualifiying Examination, and Annie Rhym was awarded a credit certificate.
CSA Business Directory
The CSA is pleased to provide an MLC Business Directory to our current parent body and Collegian community in 2010. For an annual fee, your business will be listed by category with an option of standard ($100) or feature ($150, which can include your logo) advertisement. Profits from the Business directory will go towards the Partnering for their Future fundraising campaign for our new Health and Sports Centre.
Support MLC at a value-for-money price with easy, quality service. As business owners, we know you are looking for return on investment and exposure for your business. You may also choose to offer your fellow MLC community members a discount on your services; however this is not a requirement of the Business Directory.
The MLC Business Directory offers significant opportunities for distinct marketing within the known and supportive MLC community. These may include:
• Creating interest in your products and services to potential new consumers;
• Associating your business with, and investing in, the MLC school community, thereby differentiating your business from its competitors; and
• Creating positive publicity/heightened visibility in our community as a ‘good neighbour’.
It is anticipated that members of the MLC community would be more likely to support your business over a competitor because of your joint MLC connection!
For more details, or to take up this advertising opportunity, please contact CSA Business Directory coordinator Tanja Gower on tanja@ausi.com or 0400 700 295.
Tanja Gower for the CSA
Men of MLC Cricket Dinner
The Men of MLC have rallied together once more to put on their final event for 2009; a dads-only Cricket Dinner featuring guest speaker Bruce Yardley, who is remembered as one of Australia’s best spin bowlers.
Men of MLC hopes to match the success of the Parents’ Association masquerade ball held earlier this year, by holding a very different and special wine auction.
The Cricket Dinner will be held at the Nedlands Golf Club on Thursday 26 November at 7pm for a sit-down, two course meal. Tickets cost $100 per person (including a $50 tax-deductible donation to Partnering for Their Future).
To RSVP, contact Greg Schicker at MLC on 9383 0261 or email gschicker@mlc.wa.edu.au or buy your ticket online.
I look forward to celebrating a great Men of MLC year at the Cricket Dinner.
Glenn Rodin, Men of MLC Committee member
glenn.rodin@optusnet.com.au
Large sports bags available
The Uniform Shop now has large sports bags in stock.
Sarah Benney, Uniform Shop Manager
Junior Years
From the Head of our Junior Years
One of the challenges in education today is keeping abreast of curriculum changes. Recently, Mrs Hole, Mr Taylor and myself attended an AISWA Curriculum Day. The key feature of this workshop was to examine what’s happening with the National Curriculum.
Over the forthcoming year, you will become increasingly aware of discussions in the media about this national directive. The Federal Government is presently in the process of writing curricular for phase 1 of the implementation which affects Mathematics, English, Science and History. This curriculum will be K-12 for all children in Australia. Draft curricular is being developed in each of these key areas and will be made available to schools during the course of 2010. Once we receive the final documents, we will reflect on how this will be implemented within the College.
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is responsible for the development of the national curriculum and detailed information can be found on their website . Their brief is to develop:
• A national curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 12 in specified learning areas.
• A national assessment program aligned to the national curriculum that measures students’ progress.
• A national data collection and reporting program that supports:
a). analysis, evaluation, research and resource allocation; and
b). accountability and reporting on schools and broader national achievement.
The intention of the National Curriculum is based on the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (2008)
• Raising the quality of learning
• Stretching high performers
• Setting high expectations for low performers
• Improving the equity of learning
• Reducing the impact of socio-economic differences
The national curriculum will detail what teachers are expected to teach (and students are expected to learn) for each year of schooling. It is based on the assumption that all students can learn and that every child matters. It should set high standards and ensure that they apply to all young Australians while acknowledging the markedly different rates at which students develop.
As we receive more information, we will keep you up-dated. As the Acting Head of our Junior Years, and also a parent, I feel it’s important for us to be informed about the future of our daughters’ education.
2009 Chinese Language Teachers’ Association WA Writing Competition
We are proud to announce that Sophie Popovic, Year 3Z is the second Prize Winner in the Year 3 Category and Louise Li, Year 3Z, is the second Prize Winner Community Schools and all Background/Heritage Students Level 1 & 2 Category. Congratulations Sophie and Louise.
Year 3 Soccer
Year 3 girls participated in the Cottee’s Soccer Day and played so well they won the “Fair Play Award” of the day. Well done girls! This award reflects your wonderful MLC spirit!
Michael Brown, Acting Head of our Junior Years
World Diabetes Day
The 14 November is World Diabetes Day. Year 4 student Rachel Gower is a Youth Ambassador for Diabetes and part of her role is to promote the day within the community. The following is an extract from an article Rachel has written to raise awareness of Type 1 Diabetes.
“World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on 14 November in memory of Frederick Banting and Charles Best, whose ideas helped find insulin in 1992. Also, World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007, with the passing of a United Nations Resolution 61/1225 and is celebrated in more than 160 countries. The special logo for this day is a blue circle and was adopted to mark the passing of the Resolution. The circle represents life and health and the colour blue represents the sky that unites us all and is the colour of the United Nations Flag.
“Why unite for diabetes? Diabetes is a global problem. 285 million people in the world have Type 1 diabetes and a further 344 million people in the world are at risk of developing Type 2 and must give themselves 95 per cent of their own care. It is very important that these people have all the help they can in order to be able to look after themselves.
“The focus for 2009 to 2013 is on Education and Prevention and the message is:
• Know the diabetes risks and the warning signs.
• Know how to respond to diabetes and who to turn to.
• Know how to manage diabetes and take control.
•
“Facts about diabetes:
• Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are not the same thing.
• Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and is not caused by obesity or junk food.
• Insulin is not a cure but without it those with Type 1 would die.
• There is no known way to prevent Type 1 – neither you nor your family did anything wrong.
• Rates of Type 1 diabetes are growing and scientists don’t know why.
• Australia has one of the highest rates of Type 1 diabetes in the world.
•
“I have lived for one year now with Type 1 diabetes and my goal is to talk about this condition so more people can understand and become part of a global solution. Research organisations such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation are making some real progress and offer a lot of support.”
Rachel Gower, Year 4
All invited to Junior Years Christmas Service
The Christmas Service for all girls in the Junior Years is scheduled for Friday 27 November at 9:30am in Hadley Hall. We welcome all mums, dads, grandparents and friends to join us for this event.
Year 2 girls will be the stars on the stage, Concert Band will perform and the combined Barclay choirs will be lead us in Christmas carols.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Rev Anne Wright
Middle Years
From the Assistant Head of Middle Years
Orientation Day
On Wednesday 11 November, we welcomed our new Year 7 students for 2010. The College was abuzz with our current Year 6 students and girls who will be new to MLC next year, all dressed in casual clothes. It was a wonderful opportunity for our new students to become more familiar with their next school, but more importantly, to begin to establish friendships with the girls with whom they will share the next five years of their educational journey.
The girls were welcomed by Ms Cody and the Head Girl Elect and then entertained by our fabulous Jazz Band, a great Year 9 Dance group and some talented Year 11 Drama students. It was a small snapshot of the exciting opportunities awaiting the girls throughout their MLC experience. From there, the girls were divided into groups and joined by some Year 9 students who were to assist them during Orientation Day. The students explored the campus and experienced time in classes, as well as Sport and a Chapel service. They received lots of information about Sport at MLC and we discovered there is great interest in equestrian events.
All the girls went home with information booklets to read and digest, and fewer butterflies in their tummies than they’d had at the beginning of the day. We will see them all together again on Monday 1 February when we will welcome all students new to the Middle Years. We can’t wait!
Year 8 Camp
While we were welcoming our Year 7s of 2010, half of the current Year 8 cohort was at Dwellingup for the annual Outdoor Education Camp. Mr Wilkins and several other staff members joined them on camp. The girls have been enjoying challenging activities, cooking their own food, being responsible for themselves, making new friends and working in teams. No doubt they’ll arrive back dirty, smelly and exhausted, but they will have had a great time getting to be like that.
Jan Guilfoyle, Assistant Head of Middle School
Senior Years
From the Deputy Principal/Head of our Senior Years
Senior Years: A Celebration!
Senior Years: A celebration! (formally known as Speech Night) is our annual awards and prize-giving event. All students in Years 10 to 12 are required to attend.
The event will be held at the College in Hadley Hall on Wednesday 2 December commencing at 7pm, sharp. Seating is unreserved for families. Students who will be receiving an award on the night will be notified by letter. This letter will also detail the award recipients’ seating arrangements, which will be located at the front of the hall. Ushers will direct prize winners in Years 10 and 11 to their seats in the reserved area.
All performers will receive a letter informing them of rehearsal details for the morning of the celebration and Mrs Lambert and Mr Gallo will provide other details (such as what to wear) , to girls who will be performing.
Students are required to wear the formal summer uniform for this occasion. In Years 10 and 11 this includes the blazer, summer dress, polished shoes and stockings. Year 12s wear the Year 12 uniform of blazer, skirt, white shirt, Year 12 tie, stockings and polished shoes. No jumpers or cardigans should be worn in any year group.
Year 12 girls and their families are invited to supper at the conclusion of the evening. This is a great opportunity for our Leavers to say final farewells to each other and to staff.
Parking
The lower oval, Hadley Hall car park and the undercover car park will be available for parking on the night of the Senior Years celebration.
Yvonne Palmer, Deputy Principal/Head of our Senior Years
CSA Second hand book exchange
The annual CSA book exchange for students in our Middle and Senior Years will be held on Monday 30 November and Tuesday 1 December in Bosisto Hall. On Monday, textbooks will be accepted for sale between 8 to 11 am. Books will be available for purchase on Tuesday, between 7.30am and 12 noon.
A list of textbooks that will be accepted for sale will be mailed to all Middle and Senior Years students with the 2010 school book list. Study guides will not be handled this year due to changes in the courses of study.
At the book exchange, books sell at 50 to 70 per cent of the new cost, depending on condition. A commission of 20 per cent is charged by the CSA on all books sold, and all monies raised by the book exchange will be donated to the College. No cash will change hands - monies will be debited/credited to students’ MLC accounts.
The success of the second hand book exchange relies on families bringing books in for sale, as well as the volunteers who sort them. If you can help as a volunteer, please contact Robynne Richards on prhkt@westnet.com.au
SSI Scuba Diving Qualifications
Once again this year, there is an opportunity for Year 10 and 11 students to complete the Scuba Schools International (SSI) Open Water Diver Qualifications course being offered by the Australasian Diving Academy (ADA).
The course will be held from 4 to 7 December, inclusive and costs $470 (for the basic course). Interested students can collect a form from Mrs Padman’s office in Sc 2.5 or send questions by email to kpadman@mlc.wa.edu.au
Applications close Friday 20 November and places are on a first come, first served basis.
Kate Padman, Head of Science
Year 11 Drama Night
Last Thursday we held the Year 11 Drama Night Fragments which was a wonderful evening. The girls performed beautifully and a small yet appreciative crowd were treated to a number of hilarious and poignant moments.
Drama teacher Sarah-Louise Poulton-Raas returned from Maternity Leave in a revised role to co-mark the practical exam performances.
Congratulations to all the performers who conducted themselves in a professional manner. The Year 11 Drama students are a very talented group of girls and it was fabulous to see them showcase their skills with such style.
Thanks to Head of Theatre Arts Jodee Lambert for greeting the parents and cleaning-up, afterwards, Linda Hackett for the costuming, Community Relations for arranging the programs, Luis Alvarez for security, and to Adrian and the catering staff for their help and support.
Kimberly McKerras, Teacher of Theatre Arts
|
