K-12
Partnering for their Future - A New Imperative!
The Community Reception hosted by Partnering for their Future on Wednesday 27 May was a genuine ‘community’ event with members of staff, students, parents, former parents, Collegians, Council members and members of the Foundation coming together to hear more about the latest developments in progressing the College's Campus Plan.
Of particular interest was the presentation by architects James Turnbull and Peter Leighton who provided a detailed description of the innovative plans for the proposed Health and Sports Centre.
Our campus development plan can now be accelerated with the securing of the Commonwealth Government grant of $2.5million and financial support from the community. The grant provides a unique, and possibly once in a century, opportunity for the College to accelerate its campus development plan.
The grant however, is conditional on completion of the Centre by December 2010. The total cost of the Health and Sports Centre is estimated to be around $7.5 million and for the College to accept the grant, and complete the Centre, we must now seek all possible sources of financial support.
The Community can help us ensure we realise this opportunity by making a tax deductible financial donation to the Partnering for their Future campaign. All current families will have received their personal copy of the 2009/2010 Bequest and Giving Guide which includes a ‘gift card’. We encourage you to complete and return this to the College as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can make your donation online at www.mlc.wa.edu.au
Together, we can build the ‘best school for girls’. We thank you in anticipation of your generous financial support at this time of great opportunity and need.
Emeritus Professor Lesley Parker, Chair of MLC Council and John Goodlad, Chair of MLC Foundation
From the Principal
Networking and the sense of belonging to and sharing in communities that it generates is important to young people. Much has been said in earlier College communications about how to help your daughters be safe and smart when participating in online social networks as they engage in virtual communities via the internet.
But what about real-life social networking? Catching up after school at the local milk bar or its contemporary equivalent has endured as a popular option for students to meet and through shared stories and experiences, gain that sense of belonging to community. Claremont Quarter is emerging as a popular meeting point for students from local schools and the numbers of young people congregating there directly after school can be quite imposing.
We have reminded girls during recent assemblies of the kinds of courtesies and respect we expect them to show towards others when they gather within Claremont Quarter after school. There have been reported examples of student behaviour (not necessarily MLC girls’) that is not welcomed by visitors to that centre, and there is always the risk that innocent onlookers are swept into the scenario in later descriptions of such incidents.
I encourage parents to consider whether your daughter has a genuine need to regularly spend her afternoons at Claremont Quarter. Please confirm her after-school activities (dates and finishing times), then arrange to collect your daughter from the MLC campus rather than in Claremont. If she travels home by train, encourage her to walk directly to the train station.
We continue to reinforce our expectations of behaviour for our girls whenever they represent MLC in the community, and especially when they are wearing the College uniform. And we celebrate their fine examples of respect for self and others.
I would also like to remind parents that College Youth Worker Binh Nguyen runs the West Coast Youth Group on campus most Friday evenings from 7-9:30pm. This group provides a safe, friendly and caring Christian environment for youth. The program exists to help the teenagers of this generation experience life to the full and has three main aims:
1. Help young people build strong, healthy friendships
2. Introduce the amazing grace of God
3. Equip today’s youth to be tomorrow’s leaders.
For more information on MLC’s West Coast Youth, please visit www.westcoastyouth.com
Yvonne Palmer, Acting Principal
Swine flu
New measures are now in place across Australia to reduce the transmission of the virus within schools. Health experts advising the Australian Government have recommended a period of exclusion from school following international travel to affected countries.
Consequently, I am asking parents to follow this advice in the interests of the school community.
The five countries of concern are the Mexico, the United States, Canada, Japan and Panama. If someone in your family or someone who is living with you has recently returned or arrived from these countries, I would ask you to not send your children to school for a period of seven days. This applies even if there are no signs of influenza or ill health. Please advise the Student Services if this situation applies to your family.
Please note that the seven day exclusion does not apply to students who were transit passengers passing through any of the above countries for less than 24 hours.
The WA Health Minister has stated that schools may be closed or partially closed in the event of a confirmed case of swine flu for a student or member of staff. It is hoped that the precautionary measures of voluntary exclusion for a period of seven days will avert a school closure or partial closure.
Health authorities have also advised that children with signs of respiratory illness (fever, coughs or runny nose) should not attend school. I urge you to take notice of such advice.
For further information about swine flu generally, please call the Influenza Hotline on 180 2007 or visit the Department of Health website www.health.wa.gov.au The list of countries of concern can be found on the Department of Health and Ageing website www.healthemergency.gov.au
Thank you for your cooperation. Working together with these precautionary measures will assist us to prevent the spread of this virus.
Leisa Maslin, Acting Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School
Theatre Arts news
School production
Calling all parents and friends who would like to be involved in this year's College production, by Barclay and Senior School girls, Alice's Adventure in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.
We are seeking volunteers who can spare a few hours painting the set or sewing costumes for the show. If you can assist in any way, please phone Jodee Lambert on 9383 0250.
Booking forms and online booking will soon be available for the production. I recommend you purchase tickets early as Alice in Wonderland is sure to be a fantastic family musical which will appeal to all ages. Tickets for the show cost a flat rate of $20 each (for all patrons) and include refreshments during interval.
Links to the booking forms will soon be posted on the MLC website homepage and in Wyvern. A promotional poster by Year 12 student Rachel Lawrance will soon be seen around campus and Claremont, and Jessica Murray’s (Year 11) design will grace the program cover.
IGSSA Dance Festival
Congratulations to all the wonderful dance students in Middle School and Senior School who have auditioned for the IGSSA Dance Festival for 2009. Year 11 choreographers for the Senior section are Jenny Yoon and Windemere Lai, while Nikki Mc Donald, Jacqueline Holden and Kate Davies are working hard to choreograph for the Middle School dancers. We look forward to seeing all 50 dancers perform on 3 September at Penhros College.
Jodee Lambert, Head of Theatre Arts
Music News
Music Theory Classes
Music Theory classes are held every Tuesday afternoon from 3.35- 4.35pm in Bartok, in the Music Department. The classes are taken by Allen Welsh and are open to students in Years 4 to 12. The lessons are cost-free. Please contact Sue May on 9383 022 or email smay@mlc.wa.edu.au if you would like your daughter to enrol in the classes.
Piano Recital
This year the Piano Recital will be held in the Stephen Lee Auditorium (Middle School) on Wednesday 1 July at 7.00pm. Piano students will perform a variety of works in different styles including classical, jazz and modern. The recital gives students of all ages an opportunity to perform for family and friends in an informal setting. Students who are learning privately and wish to perform in the recital are asked to forward details of their piece to Mrs May by Wednesday 17 June. Admission is free.
Music Examination Results
Congratulations to the following students on their excellent results in the Australian Music Examinations Board Examinations.
Hannah Benschop (Year 10), Credit, Grade 7 Piano for Leisure
Deepthy Koshy (Year 11), Credit, Grade 4 Piano for Leisure
Rebecca Love (Year 6), Credit, Grade 2 Pianoforte
Congratulations to the following students on obtaining outstanding results in the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) String Festival.
Josephine Dunn (Year 5), Very Good
Simona Dunn (Year 4), Good
Congratulations to the following students on their excellent results in the Fremantle Eisteddfod.
Josephine Dunn (Year 5), Credit, String Solo Second Grade (Cello)
Serena Eng ( Year 7), Second Place
Chorale - First Place
Barbershop - First Place
Cantabile - Credit (Third Place)
Year 8 & 9 Choir - Second Place
'Young and Foolish' Quartet - First Place
Year 5/6 Choir - Fourth Place
Congratulations to Stephanie Jones on being awarded the 2009 Music Support Group Bursary for Years 11 and 12. The bursary is awarded to an outstanding music student in Year 11 who is studying TEE Music.
Cabaret Night
Friday 15 May was a busy day for the Music Department; after the excitement of the Fremantle Eisteddfod during the day, the Jazz Band and Barbershop prepared to delight a sell-out audience in the MLC Dining Hall that evening.
Cabaret Night guests enjoyed a delicious three-course meal while being entertained by the Barbershop, Jazz Band and our two new barbershop quartets; 'Young & Foolish' and 'Petit Fours'.
Many first-time attendees were delighted with the standard of both the food and the music, while regulars snapped up their tickets early; tickets sold out by the end of Term 1. This event was a chance for the Barbershop girls to perform for the last time with their director, Pamela Grubb, and farewell her as she departs the College to travel.
Bobby Gallo, Director of Music
Rowing Support Group
Quiz Night
You are invited to the Rowing Support Group Quiz night scheduled for Saturday 20 June, from 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start, in the MLC Dining Room. Numbers are limited, so get a group together and purchase your $15 tickets by contacting Greg Schicker in the Community Relations Office on 9385 0261 or gschicker@mlc.wa.edu.au
Sundowner
To celebrate the start of the rowing season, the Rowing Support Group will host a Sundowner on Friday 5 June from 6.00 to 8.00pm in the Meeting Room. Drinks and nibbles will be provided. Please RSVP to Community Relations on 9383 0261 or gschicker@mlc.wa.edu.au
Women Who Lead continues momentum
Women Who Lead launched with a BANG last week with more than 300 people turning out to hear the inspirational stories of our five guest speakers. For those who are looking for their second dose of inspiration, or who missed out on the first event, Women Who Lead’s second event, Ordinary is Extraordinary, is just around the corner!
Scheduled for 16 June in Hadley Hall, Ordinary is Extraordinary will provide another opportunity to hear from five exceptional women who have achieved extraordinary success or accomplishments across a range of fields, but who remain ‘ordinary’ people. The speakers’ stories, their passion for what they do and their achievements are certain to leave you inspired to make your own positive difference in our community.
Speakers include burns specialist and Australian of the Year (2005) Dr Fiona Wood, former world number 8 tennis player and Olympic bronze medallist Alicia Molik, youth specialist nurse and MLC Collegian Jo Rees who has made an impact on the health of Indigenous Australian and Ethiopian communities, and entertainer, educator and ‘clown doctor’ Clare Stace. Guest speaker Rachel Gower’s (9 years) talk about her work raising awareness and funds to research juvenile diabetes will illustrate how an extraordinary journey can begin at a young age.
Join us for refreshments in Hadley Hall on June 16 from 6pm for a 6.30pm start. Tickets are $20 and are available from Middle School Reception, Student Services or www.trybooking.com (Search for ‘Women Who Lead’). Cash payment is possible at the door on the night.
Dionne Tindale, Public Relations and Media Officer
Advantage Morning success to be repeated
Thanks to all families and staff who contributed to the success of the first Advantage Morning at the College this year, including those who played a part in pre-event planning or assistance on the day by touring sub-schools, speaking to guests or accommodating classroom visitors.
The visible pride of College staff and students in MLC provided a fabulous first impression for our visitors.
Following the success of the Advantage Morning held in May, another has been scheduled for Tuesday 23 June from 9.30am for additional prospective families. Your support of this event is also appreciated.
Please feel free to extend an invitation to your family or friends who may be interested in seeing how MLC can provide their daughter the experiences and opportunities they have always wanted.
Families interested in attending an Advantage Morning should phone the Admissions Team on 9384 4000, while general information about the College can be obtained at www.mlc.wa.edu.au
Admissions Team
Big Purple Undies
Award winning author, poet and performer Lou Kelman returns to MLC to present her hilarious comedy show Big Purple Undies. Lou has achieved great acclaim in the United States where she has performed countless sell-out shows throughout the ‘States and was invited to dinner by Oprah Winfrey!
Lou Recently spoke in Hadley hall at the Women Who Lead event, Walk in My Shoes. Participants at that event would have gained an insight into Lou’s quick wit and undeniable skill as a comic performer.
Big Purple Undies will be held in Hadley Hall on Wednesday 24 June from 7-9.30pm. Tickets are $30.00 and include wine and snacks.
To purchase your tickets, go to www.trybooking.com (search for Big Purple Undies). Tickets are also available from Middle School reception.
Big Purple Undies is proudly sponsored by the MLC Parents’ Association.
Winter Appeal – give generously
The UnitingCare West winter appeal has commenced to help people struggling to pay the rent or feed their children. Donate online at www.unitingcarewest.org.au or phone 1300 663 298.
Congratulations
Hannah Cammack (Year 11) was recently presented an award for her A+ performance in the Level 3 of the AMEB Speech and Performance Exams last year. Hannah studies Drama at MLC, takes singing and musical theatre classes with Vogue Entertainment and dances with the WA Performance School.
Head of Home Economics Susan Miller was once again involved in the Bindaring Clothing Sale for the Red Cross which in just one day raised $113,000 for the Red Cross!
Creative Arts teacher Jen Buchanan placed first in the female pair category of the Brownes Urban Max adventure race which took 150 teams through the city of Perth on a range of Amazing Race-type challenges.
Cross Country runners Samantha Schrauth, Nina Trimboli, Elisabeth Parry and Holly Richmond (Year 7), Nicola Ferguson (Year 8) and Cathy Clarke and Ella Trimboli (Year 11) competed well in the All Schools Cross Country event held recently. MLC set the pace in the Year 11 race, with Cathy taking first place and Ella coming second.
What’s On K-12
Mid Term break
Monday 1 June
Replacement Day 6 Monday
Wednesday 3 June
RSG Pasta Night for 1st Regatta for Years 11 and 12 parents (Café)
RSP Sundowner (Meeting Room, 6-8pm)
Friday 5 June
IGSSA Rowing Regatta 1
Saturday 6 June
JSHAA Performing Arts Festival begins
Tuesday 9 June
Replacement Day 10
Thursday 11 June
RSG pasta night (Café)
Friday 12 June
Coming Events
Women Who Lead – Ordinary is Extraordinary
Tuesday 16 June (Hadley Hall, 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start)
Tickets are $20 and are available from www.trybooking.com Middle School Reception and Student Services.
Instrumental Camp departs (4pm)
Thursday 18 June
Instrumental Camp returns (5pm)
Saturday 20 June
Big Purple Undies
Wednesday 24 June (Hadley Hall, 7-9.30pm)
Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
The importance of taking risks and making mistakes
I wish that life was simple, straight-forward, easy and predictable. But the reality is that we, adults, children or institutions, have to take risks. Sometimes these will be profitable and rewarding, other times we reflect back and in hindsight wonder why we agreed to a particular course of action. I have always held the view that it is important to try things out, give them a chance and then determine the validity of a decision or course of action. Daylight savings is a wonderful example. Prior to the trial I was a strong advocate, but after three years I had my doubts. What I don’t regret is the opportunity that we all had to give it a try.
I think it’s important that Junior School has this ethos. I am an ideas person and welcome/embrace change. This doesn’t mean that we should be reckless. Rather, informed decisions are taken based on reliable data that we have available. Schools need to constantly reflect on their practices and respond to changing conditions. Presently, Junior School staff are working on a number of initiatives that we hope will improve learning outcomes for your daughter. Some of these ideas are based on parent feedback from coffee mornings, while other ideas are of our own creation and have been adapted based on what we’ve observed at other schools.
We have already implemented an after-school typing class and are reviewing the structure of the three-way conferences to be held in Term 3. I would like to generate a culture that encourages dialogue and discussion. I truly welcome ideas, comments and suggestions from parents. With this in mind, I intend to hold a coffee morning on Wednesday 1 July in the Meeting Room from 9:00 – 10:30 to discuss future initiatives and receive feedback.
Parent Workshops
Cyber Safety and Cyber Bullying by Junior School psychologist Luisa Rossi
Thursday 18 June, 9:00 – 10:30am, Meeting Room
Some of the material shown will be confronting, but Mrs Rossi intends addressing key questions and issues that all parents should consider. To RSVP for this workshop, call Wendy Sweet on 9383 0223.
Use of Technology in Education by ICT teaching and learning coordinator Anna Hu
Thursday 25 June, 9-10.30am, Year 7 Seminar Room, Middle School
This interactive workshop will enable you to try out some of the websites teachers recommend for you daughter. To RSVP for this workshop, call Wendy Sweet on 9383 0223.
Michael Brown, Acting Head of Junior School
What’s On Junior School
Replacement Day 6 Monday
Wednesday 3 June
Assembly
Friday 5 June (2pm, Hadley Hall)
JSHAA Performing Arts Festival
Tuesday 9 June
Replacement Day 10
Thursday 11 June
Junior School chapel
Friday 12 June
Middle School
From the Head of Middle School
Respect for self and others
Earlier in Semester 1, MLC sent home to the Middle and Senior School parents our policy for the prevention of bullying. We would be seeing life through ‘rose coloured glasses’ if we thought this would be a panacea for all of our worries. There is no doubt in my mind that the complex interaction between adolescents is messy at best, but also reasonably predictable.
There are many active strategies that parents and their daughters can adopt to minimise the extent of conflict and improve the long-term outlook as adolescent behaviour, hormones and growth changes occur during the Middle School education phase.
One of the key reasons for establishing a Middle School was to acknowledge the ‘adolescent phase’ of a girl’s life; to surround the girls with staff and structures that will hopefully recognise and cope with the changes that an adolescent will go through during this very important growth stage.
Some of these changes are obvious, such as growing taller, developing ‘curves’, puberty, abstract thought, challenging our attitudes, possible poor levels of physical endurance and exaggeration of simple issues, among others. Less obvious changes include reprioritising the importance of family from ranked 1st down to 5th and ‘school’ from 3rd down to 8th, and the establishment of ‘friendships’ to 1st ranking. Extreme fluctuations of metabolism and associated rebounds from the extremes of restlessness and listlessness are among other changes.
Why do I mention any of this? Some of the recent issues of conflict presented to me involve the computer. The formation of ‘best friends’ in adolescent years has many associated problems; Girls will often confide their deepest feelings in each other. This is all fine as long as the friendships last forever, but research shows that relationships are very fluid throughout this time. Girls start to seek out friends with similar likes and dislikes. An associated risk is that much of the confiding is happening online using MSN and Myspace, and a lot of this information is available for others to access. When the friendships wane, the information that is still out there is often used as an attack on the character of ‘old friendships’. As a result, it is appropriate for the girls to be given advice on moderating information they release to the world, as the
ramifications are at times insidious.
If I teach my children to swim, I do not just push them off of the jetty into the river and walk away. I adopt a responsible, protective stance and monitor their performance; I make sure they can cope with the changes in the tide, the wind and the temperature of the water. One day they will swim alone!
I send my children to good schools, I have set good values at home and I hopefully model appropriate standards. However, I am guilty of ‘hoping’ this is will allow my children to ‘swim’ in the ‘internet river’ safely. Why? Because I was prepared to watch them swim in the river and as difficult as it was to allocate the time, I made the time; their safety was paramount to me. Deep down, I was hoping I did not have to spend the time looking after them whilst they were learning to use the internet; surely it was time for society to accept some responsibility!
Time for my reality check! I now spend a lot more time with my children when they are online because by watching and communicating more with my kids about their online usage, two things are possible: Nothing should go wrong, and maybe I can be taught a few new things.
Either way, I see myself as benefiting from the extra time that I now make to once again play ‘life guard’ as my kids learn to survive in the real world. Time well spent!
Bruce Wilkins, Acting Head of Middle School
What’s On Middle School
Year 9 Ballroom Dancing (Scotch College, 4-5.30pm)
Tuesday 2 June
Year 9 parents’ coffee morning (after drop-off, Coffee Club, Claremont Quarter)
Wednesday 3 June
Year 9 Ballroom Dancing social (Humphrey’s Dance Studio, 7.30-9.30pm)
Thursday 4 June
Year 9 Dim Sum lunch (12 noon, Dragon Palace,Northbridge)
(RSVP to class coordinators Hsiang-Ju, Lynn Matthews, Claire Truman, Sandra Marnewick or Carola Akindle-Obe by Wednesday 24 June)
Tuesday 30 June
Year 9 parent cocktail evening
Saturday 22 August
Details to follow
Senior School
What’s On Senior School
Year 11 Exams Commence
Tuesday 2 June
Senior Netball and Hockey (Round 5)
Wednesday 3 June
Year 9/10 Netball and Hockey (Round 5)
Thursday 4 June
IGSSA Rowing Regatta 1
Saturday 6 June
Senior Netball and Hockey (Round 6)
Wednesday 10 June
Senior School assembly (Hadley Hall, 11.45am)
Year 9/10 Hockey and Netball (Round 6)
Thursday 11 June
Year 11 Exams conclude
Friday 12 June
IGSSA Rowing Regatta 2
Saturday 13 June
Coming Events
Year 10 Social
Friday 19 June
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