Wyvern Term 2 Week 8, 15 June 09
From the Principal
As we approach the end of Term 2, many girls are facing ‘testing times’. With the first rowing regatta behind us and another this weekend, MLC rowers are testing their strength and technique against ergo machines in training and against IGSSA crews on the river on Saturday mornings.
Year 9 girls are testing themselves in outdoor challenges and through living in close groups for a week in less comfortable conditions than they enjoy at home. Abseiling, caving, canoeing, high ropes and an expedition into the natural environment will not all be easy for every girl (I suspect mornings are very chilly in the South West, too!).
Senior School girls are sitting, or have just completed, semester examinations that require them to perform in various written and practical exercises on their own mettle. While teamwork is the most effective approach to creatively solving complex problems, teams do require individuals to bring their special talents and expertise to the team’s task.
It is important in these kinds of contexts, when girls face testing situations, that they maintain a 3600 view over one performance in one situation. Often, very limited skills and knowledge are being assessed each time, and there are just so many attributes we value highly that defy objective measurement through some form of test or examination.
Experience with ‘testing times’ gives girls valuable opportunities to learn more about themselves and to make the necessary adjustments that equip them to manage their disappointments, as well as handle their successes.
MLC provides a supportive environment in which girls are encouraged to take risks that are inherent in ‘testing’ that exposes their individual, as opposed to a team’s, performance. It is how they prepare for those testing times, physically and mentally, and how they respond in the light of feedback on their individual performance, that provide great stimuli for personal growth. Life beyond school will continue to set individual challenges for the girls to meet head-on and invariably, much more will depend on how they manage themselves in meeting those challenges.
MLC has been monitoring the changing scene as H1N1 (Human Swine Influenza) cases increase amongst our broader community. We will continue to email updates to families as we receive them from the Department of Health. I have been grateful for the immediate enquiries and information coming in from families and staff members who have close links to students in quarantined year groups in other schools or are planning holiday travel to H1N1 affected areas. Our decision-making about appropriate responses in each instance is based on the best advice the Department of Health can offer and will tend towards erring on the side of caution. Our decision to request a different bus driver for the departing Year 9 Camp Group last Sunday morning arose when the initial driver revealed that he had driven the bus transporting a camp group in which H1N1 infection had been confirmed last week.
For further information about H1N1 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/cities of concern can be found on the Department of Health and Ageing website www.healthemergency.gov.au
Yvonne Palmer, Acting Principal
Ordinary is Extraordinary features women who lead
Women Who Lead launched with a BANG last week with almost 400 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 on June 16 from 6.00pm 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.
Music News
Withdrawal from Instrumental Tuition
Parents who wish to withdraw their daughter from instrumental tuition at the end of Term 3 must give notice in writing to the Music Coordinator, Mrs Sue May, by Friday 3 July. Students withdrawing after Friday 3 July will incur the full charge for the remainder of the year, based on one lesson per week.
Semester 2 Concert
The Semester 1 Music Concert will be held in Hadley Hall on Friday 26 June, commencing at 7pm. All College Music ensembles will be performing at the concert. Junior School students are encouraged to stay after their performance to listen to the performances of the more senior ensembles. Students involved in the concert will shortly receive a note outlining details of the evening.
Piano Recital
This year the Piano Recital will be held in the Stephen Lee Auditorium on Wednesday 1 July at 7pm. 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 to 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 Frances Clarke, Year 6, her outstanding result in the recent Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) String Festival.
Bobby Gallo, Director of Music
National E-security Awareness Week
Annual National E-security Awareness Week aims to raise awareness about the importance of e-security among Australians.
The Week, being held from 5 to 12 June, will help inform home users, students and small business about the simple steps they can take to protect themselves, their families and their businesses online.
Five simple tips being promoted throughout the Week will help Australians use the internet in a secure and confident manner:
• Get a better, stronger password and change it at least twice a year.
• Get security software, and update and patch it regularly.
• Stop and think before you click on links or attachments from unknown sources.
• Information is valuable. Be careful about what you give away about yourself and others online.
• Log on to www.staysmartonline.gov.au for further information and to sign up for the email alert service.
Stay Smart Online provides all Australian online users with information on the simple steps they can take to secure themselves online. This includes information and advice on how to secure your computer and your transactions online.
This website contains a free alert service that provides easy-to-understand information on the latest e-security threats and vulnerabilities, a free interactive education resource for primary and secondary school students, videos with useful tips on protecting your computer, a self assessment tool for small businesses, and information for parents.
Anna Hu, ICT Teaching and Learning Coordinator
Rug up for ‘Winter Wednesdays’
In true Aussie spirit, the Student Representative Council has decided to give the environmental initiative ‘Winter Wednesdays’ a ‘fair go’.
While MLC would not be the first school to act upon the idea of reducing energy consumption, we aim to embrace Winter Wednesday throughout the College, from Kindergarten to Year 12, by turning off heating every Wednesday.
The SRC hopes to see all MLC girls ‘rugged up’ each Wednesday in layers of thermals and vests under the College uniform, as well as the MLC scarf and black or green gloves whilst the school temporarily becomes a heat free zone.
We are confident MLC students will work do their part in reducing our impact on the environment this winter.
Natalie Meyer, SRC Prefect
MLC Weekend Netball News
Our season is well under way and we are now settled into grades since the re-grading was completed. Weather-wise, we have been quite fortunate, but please remember that Netball is a winter sport and we play in all conditions except when lightening is present.
We have achieved some wonderful results across all grades, but our most exciting win last weekend was our wonderful Year 4 Yellow team who won their first game with a score line of 7-3 (even though we do not score in Netta!). Congratulations girls and keep up the good work.
Over the July holidays, Perth Netball Association (PNA) is holding coaching courses for Primary students. If you are interested, please see Mrs Gairns for the relevant forms or you can collect them from the office on Saturday morning.
The Association is also running a JUMP umpiring course for girls interested in learning to umpire. Again, please see Mrs Gairns or collect the forms from the PNA office.
Please note we do not play games over the holidays, so there is no netball for the weekends of 4,11 and 18 July. Happy holidays.
Kate Gairns, Coordinator Weekend Netball Club
Rowing Support Group Quiz Night
The Rowing Support Group’s annual quiz night is scheduled for Saturday 20 June.
Parents who have a service or product that they would consider donating to the club for auction on the night are asked to contact Alan Stevenson on 0410 496 478 or email astevenson@jmj.com
Alan Stevenson, President
Entertainment Books now available
The 2009/2010 Entertainment books have now arrived and can be collected from the Middle and Junior School reception. They are still books available and can be ordered though Greg Schicker on 9383 0261 or gschicker@mlc.wa.edu.au
Men of MLC Logo Competition - Let the voting begin
Twenty seven creative and colourful entries from talented Dad and Daughter combinations have been received for the Men of MLC logo design competition
This made the task of short listing very hard. However, a panel comprised of the founding members of Men of MLC achieved the onerous, and at times contentious, task of reducing the strong field down to just six entries that most fundamentally capture the principles of the initiative’s.
It is now time for all Men of MLC members, aided by their discerning daughters, to pick up the gauntlet and vote for the logo which they believe captures the essence and symbolic expression of Men of MLC.
The logo judged by popular vote to be the winner will form the standard of the Men of MLC in perpetuity, but will initially be exhibited on the inaugural Men of MLC T-Shirt, which will be sold to raise funds for the College. The winner will be announced at the Annual General Meeting of the Men of MLC on Tuesday 23 June. Voting closes 5pm, Sunday 21 June.
Voting is opening to all Dad and Daughter combinations who are members of the Men of MLC. To vote, click on the Men of MLC advert on the home page of the College website at mlc.wa.edu.au and email Glenn Rodin at rodin0g@optusnet.com.au with the number of the entry which you believe captures the principles of the Men of MLC. These are to play an integral and constructive role in the lives of daughters, and to use the network of dads to support, enrich and fulfil their daughter’s lives.
If you like, you can accompany your vote with the reason why you have chosen the logo.
Good Luck!
Glenn Rodin, Men of MLC
Please note: designs can be ‘tweaked’ by a graphic artist if required for logo purposes; however the original design will appear on the initial T-shirt.
Gifting to MLC won’t cost you as much as you think!
Thanks to Federal Government grant of $2.5million, progress on our new Health and Sports Centre is ahead of schedule. We now need to take another big step forward.
Make a tax deductible financial donation to the Partnering for their Future campaign before 30 June, 2009 and see the benefits for yourself.
For example - assuming a tax rate of 31.5%, a gift of a $1000 over a 12 month period is really $685, or:
• $57 per month – a meal out with a friend
• $13 per week – less than a movie ticket
• $1.80 a day - less than a cup of coffee!
***For those on a tax rate of 41.5% or more, your dollar goes even further**
Click here to make your contribution to Partnering for their Future now, by gifting online.
We thank you in anticipation of your generous financial support at this time of great opportunity and need.
Suzanne Fisher, Fundraising Coordinator
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
Head of Middle School Maria Camilleri has welcomed the newest arrival to her family. Matthew was born on 29 May, weighing 2.2kg.
What’s On K-12
PA meeting (7.30pm, Meeting Room)
Monday 15 June
Women Who Lead (6pm, Hadley Hall)
Rowing Support Group Meeting (7pm, Meeting Room)
Tuesday 16 June
Replacement Day
Per Ardua AGM (Meeting Room)
Thursday 18 June
RSG Quiz night
Saturday 20 June (7.30pm, MLC Dinning Room)
To book a table contact Greg Schicker on 9383 0261 or gschicker@mlc.wa.edu.au
Collegian Association Meeting (7pm, Meeting Room)
Monday 22 June
Big Purple Undies (7pm, Hadley Hall)
Wednesday 24 June
Community Support Association Meeting (8.45am, Meeting Room)
Thursday 25 June
Semester 1 Music Concert (7pm, Hadley Hall)
Friday 26 June
RSG 2009 Manure Drive Fundraiser
Saturday 25 July
To make an order contact Greg Schicker on 9383 0261 or gschicker@mlc.wa.edu.au
Junior School
The Future of Education
Recently, MLC teachers participated in a workshop on the Future of Schooling which asked ‘What are the skills and knowledge our girls will need in the future?’ and ‘How is education going have to change to meet the demands of modern society?’
One of the DVD presentations was by Professor Erica McWilliams. I was struck by one particular passage in which she mentioned that the Generation Y child will struggle to cope with the future.
Professor McWilliams said future children will need to be resilient, not fear failure, want ‘to know’, creative, not easily satisfied, creators of their own knowledge and they will want to be ‘hands-on, minds on, plugged in’.
This made me reflect on a number of initiatives we’ve already put in place in the Junior School. It’s not just about the acquisition of knowledge, it’s about teaching the girls to be life-long learners, inquirers, thinkers, and team workers; they will need to learn how to solve complex problems, but most importantly, they will need to be resilient.
Recently, I returned home to find my Year 1 son in tears. He had experienced a horrible day at school. Everything seemed to go wrong; he complained he had no friends and that one child had told him that he was not going to invite him to his birthday party. My initial reaction was to think about calling up the school, ask them about their bullying policy, and make it a problem for the class teacher to solve. Then, I stopped and thought about what I was trying to teach my son. Was I becoming a ‘helicopter’ parent? Instead I talked to him about how to deal with the issues and the other children.
Monday came around and I could see he was nervous and worried. I again reassured him, told him I’d always be there for him and sent him off to school. When I returned home that evening he had completely forgotten that there had been a problem. We had all moved on, but in doing so, I think he was taught a valuable lesson for life.
Sometimes, the issues are more difficult and do require our intervention. The teachers, Assistant Heads of Junior School, team leaders, psychologists and I are always available to help you through any issue or concern. We would much prefer to know about issues rather than allow concerns to fester. As we have constantly stated, we are always willing to improve and do things better.
Michael Brown, Acting Head of Junior School
More Junior School News
It is with great pleasure that I announce Ms Pip Dafforn-Smith will be taking over as the Year 2 teacher when Ms Rose commences her maternity leave at the end of Week 8 in Term 3.
Mrs Tracy McDonald will be Jo Halliday’s maternity leave replacement. Mrs McDonald has worked as a relief teacher in the Junior School and is presently covering Jenny Borrill’s physical education position. Mrs McDonald is an experienced teacher and mother of three children and brings to the College a wealth of skills and knowledge.
New Year 5 Class
The College has made the strategic decision to open up a new Year 5 class for 2010. More information about the location and teacher will be communicated shortly.
Year 5 Art Projects
I would like to congratulate Kate Ivey (Year 5) whose marquette entitled ‘Wonderful Watermelon’, was selected as a winner in the art competition held by the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Her work is now on display in the Art Gallery.
Shaun Tan Awards
Each year the City of Subiaco hosts the annual Shaun Tan Award for young artists. Thousands of entrants from school aged children are received. This year, Abigael Sula is a finalist and Alexandra Wulff, also Year 6, was placed in the top 10. This is a phenomenal achievement and is testimony to the outstanding work of the girls under Mrs Teusner’s tutelage.
Murder Under the Microscope
A number of girls in Years 5 and 6 have been involved in the national science competition, Murder Under the Microscope. Last Friday, we were notified that MLC was in first place in Western Australia. I would like to congratulate the girls on their wonderful work under the guidance of our extension teacher, Mrs Jacquie Hardwicke.
What’s On Junior School
Years 1 and 2 excursion to Ciccerello’s
Wednesday 17 June
Junior School assembly (2pm, Hadley Hall)
Friday 19 June
Year 5 IPSHA Winter Games Day
Tuesday 23 June
Year 6 IPSHA Winter Games Day
Wednesday 24 June
Junior School Chapel
Friday 26 June
Middle School
Princess Bitchface Syndrome and the Effective Parenting of Young Girls
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg is one of Australia’s leading authorities on teenage behaviour and as a practising psychologist, specialises in the area of parenting adolescents and adolescent mental health.
As author of The Princess Bitchface Syndrome and Surviving Adolescents,
Dr Carr-Gregg offers advice for parents when their ‘previously quiet, loving daughter becomes a restless, rebellious stranger who behaves like a responsible adult one day and a vampish brat the next.’
MLC parents are invited to Perth College to spend an evening with Dr Carr-Gregg and ask questions following his presentation.
Judith Cottier Theatre, Perth College
Tuesday 21 July 2009, 7 – 8.30pm
Tickets: $20
Bookings through the News and Events section at pc.wa.edu.au
What’s On Middle School
Year 9 Outdoor Education Camp 2 departs
Monday 15 June
Middle School assembly (11.45am, Hadley Hall)
Year 7/8 Dancesport (6.30pm, Hadley Hall)
Thursday 18 June
Year 9 Outdoor Camp 2 returns
Friday 19 June
Years 7-12 Interhouse Athletics carnival
Wednesday 24 June
Father Daughter breakfast (6.45am, College Dining Room)
Friday 26 June
Year 7 Parent Morning Tea
Home of Meredie Rose (Lucy's Mum)
34 Doonan Rd, Nedlands
Tuesday 30 June (8.45am after drop off)
Contact Susan Beyer for any details - 93897585
Year 9 parent cocktail evening
Saturday 22 August (MLC Café)
If you have any questions or queries, please contact:
Hsiang-Ju Boddy on 0423 195 180 or chboddy@tinyonline.co.uk
Claire Truman on 0438 979 009 or mousey13@bigpond.com
Sandra Marnewick on 0439 845 066 sandymarn@bigpond.com
Senior School
Achieving the best outcomes in Year 12
Year 12 students have now received their Semester 1 exam results. For many girls these results were encouraging and a credit to the girls’ consistent hard work and exam preparation. For others, the past week has been disappointing.
It is important to remember that these exams only count for a relatively small percentage of the final school mark (subject dependent), and that the Semester 1 exams should be viewed as a learning experience. They are also a learning tool and provide an opportunity to set or refine goals.
The feedback from teaching staff and a student’s own reflection on her exam performance, work habits and study/exam techniques will help her to prepare for the Mock exams at the end of Term 3 and the TEE examinations in Term 4.
As parents, you can assist your daughter by being positive, providing a suitable work environment and encouraging a healthy, balanced lifestyle, including sufficient sleep. Your support, together with that of the teaching staff, will assist your daughter in achieving appropriate outcomes.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns. Queries or concerns of parents and students can also be directed to:
Sue Moss/Sue Shaw – Acting Assistant Heads of Senior School, Curriculum
Robyn Blackburn - Counsellor
Transition planning
The following events will assist your daughter in planning her transition from MLC.
16 June - a representative from TISC will talk to students about the application process for university.
2 July - Year 12 Future Options Morning – the five Western Australian Universities and TAFE will give presentations to students about courses at their institutions.
3 August - the Tertiary Options Expo at PLC will give an additional opportunity for students to discuss study options with university representatives.
University Handbooks are now available for all Year 12 students and girls should collect these from the counsellor’s area as soon as possible.
In the tutorial program, tutors will assist students with looking at graduation requirements, prediction of TER’s and goal setting for the future.
All students will be invited to attend an interview with the College Counsellors in the second half of Term 3 to discuss their transition planning for 2010.
Please note that all MLC Year 12 students who are preparing for university in 2010 will be given a free portable computer flash drive. This flash drive is called The Box©, and it has been developed by Curtin University of Technology to make the lives of our Year 12 students easier. It will include valuable information to help students with their current and future university studies. To find out more about The Box©, visit www.curtin.edu.au/thebox
Dee Haughton, Head of Year 12
dhaughton@mlc.wa.edu.au
Community Service
The Curriculum Council has removed the requirement for students to complete 20 hours of community service in order to receive their WACE. MLC will continue to record and report the number of hours of community service completed in Years 10, 11 and 12 on Semester 1 and 2 Reports. Hours that have been completed will still be submitted to the Curriculum Council and will appear on the final WACE Statement of Results.
Any student with existing commitments is encouraged to complete those commitments and to seek out further opportunities to act as a volunteer. The experience of volunteering enriches people in so many different ways; in encouraging a sense of civic duty; in developing new and diverse skills; in staying connected with and understanding the needs of the community and, sometimes, in creating a new outlook on life.
Leisa Maslin, Acting Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School
Year 10 Social
The Year 10 Social is being held on Friday 19 June from 7 - 9.30pm. Please drop your daughters as close to Bosisto Hall as possible and collect them outside of Bosisto Hall promptly at the completion of the evening.
As a safety precaution, students will not be allowed to walk unattended to CCGS to be picked up. Girls to be collected by the parents/guardians of another student have been asked to indicate this in writing via the pink letter that has been sent home.
Parent volunteers during the evening would be most welcomed! Please let me know if you can help out via tshadbolt@mlc.wa.edu.au or call 9383 0254.
Tanya Shadbolt, Head of Year 10
What’s On Senior School
Rowing Support Group Meeting (7pm, Meeting Room)
Tuesday 16 June
Senior Netball and Hockey (Round 7)
Wednesday 17 June
Year 9/10 Hockey and Netball (Round 7)
Thursday 18 June
IGSSA Cross Country
Friday 19 June
College Production Rehearsal, All Day
Sunday 21 June
Senior School Assembly
Thursday 25 June
IGSSA Rowing Regatta 3
Saturday 27 June
College Production Rehearsal, All Day
Sunday 28 June
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