The memories formed by 11 of our Class of 2021 Grammarians, who began their Melbourne Girls Grammar journeys as three and four-year-olds, still live firmly in their minds 15 years later. 

2021 School Vice Captain Tiffany Chiang, along with Josie Burns, Evie Anderson, Fleur Hardisty, Sophie Piggott, Dede Prappas, Latasha Townsend, Sophie Waller, Emma Woo, Abigail Heitbaum and Yohansa Samarakoon all commenced their journeys with MGGS at the Early Learning Centre and they all remember their time in the ELC fondly.

 Sophie is sure a coloured stone she placed on the sculpture Pamela Irving – artist in residence at the time – created is still there. 

Fleur’s favourite memory is of her group teacher, Emma, allowing her and her peers to decorate the classroom in a wedding theme leading up to her big day. 

“One of the parents set up her wedding dress on a mannequin in the room and we all had so much fun trying on white veils and picking our own bouquets of flowers,” she recalls. 

Evie remembers assemblies on the stairs outside the building, rides in her dad’s bike trailer to get to School, the life-long friends she made and the playground with its ‘Wendy House’ cubby, which is still there to this day. 

Latasha’s most vivid memory centres around a play she and her peers performed for their parents, where she played a wombat. She recalls that she really enjoyed getting into her costume and working on her acting skills. 

Tiffany remembers feeling worried and scared coming to the ELC due to English being her second language, but says she immediately felt accepted and embraced within the community. 

The 11 Class of 2021 ELC starters share the legacy that MGGS has instilled in them since the moment they entered the ELC in 2007/8. 

Our 2021 VCE results highlight the benefits of this part of the cohort starting as early as they could. The median ATAR score for students who started earlier than Year 7 was 92.4 compared to 88.25 for those who started then or after. 

From ELC to Year 12, Melbourne Girls Grammar students are encouraged to pursue excellence, whilst also enabling our Grammarians to develop with confidence and independence. 

“MGGS was a nurturing and special place for me, as it allowed me to grow into an accomplished and confident young woman,” Fleur said. 

“I enjoyed experiencing a range of diverse and educational experiences with my peers and am so grateful to have been able to experience such a vibrant and exciting all-around education.” 

Evie, Tiffany and Latasha echo Fleur’s thoughts.  

“The School encouraged me to pursue what I am best at and my greatest interests – music and arts – and giving me opportunities to perform and shine in those areas,” Evie said. 

“Some of the obstacles I faced through my schooling gave me the strong ability to be resilient, in such things as musical performance, competitive sport, and displaying artwork.”    

“MGGS was a nurturing and special place for me, as it allowed me to grow into an accomplished and confident young woman. I enjoyed experiencing a range of diverse and educational experiences with my peers and am so grateful to have been able to experience such a vibrant and exciting all-around education.” – Fleur Hardisty

Latasha continued: “The School provided me with so many opportunities that changed my perspective and allowed me to create my own views, values and morals that have shaped who I am today. 

“I have also met so many inspirational people throughout my time at school, from teachers to my friends who have really helped me form the person I am proud to be.” 

Tiffany said the School enabled her to feel confident in her capabilities and prepared her for the next part of her life beyond the red brick walls. She also said that starting at MGGS at a young age definitely made her school journey smoother since she was working within a familiar learning environment and the School became like a second home to her.

She believes the foundation of learning and curiosity was set as soon as she started ELC as a three-year-old, and she remembers how her peers and herself were always encouraged to try new things and ask countless questions. 

Find out more about our learning programs from ELC to Year 12 here.