As Term 2 comes to a close, we thank all of the members of our community for making this semester such a full and vibrant one. The end of each semester sees the culmination of units of learning for students, with reports coming home to indicate progress. Our message with Grammarians is always to pay attention to the learning as much as to the result. Whatever work has been done this semester lays the foundation for the student’s intellectual and ethical framework for the rest of their lives. As such, every lesson matters, and each daily experience also shapes a growing mind. This week I had the pleasure of speaking to a Year 9 student about the joy she has found in studying Philosophy, and I was reminded of how precious it is to nurture curiosity and critical thinking. As student reports arrive, we encourage parents to engage with their children in conversations about what their learning means in the world.

Professor Rose Luckin, of the University College London, was in Australia last week addressing the EduTech conference on ‘AI in Education’, with several of our staff members in attendance. Her messages are important as we reflect on what matters from the work our students have done this semester. Professor Luckin emphasised that human intelligence will remain important in a world with AI. The strengths of human intelligence include our ‘meta intelligence’, that is our capacity for meta-cognition, social-intelligence, recognising subjectivity, and interdisciplinary academic intelligence. We work with students to nurture their understanding of themselves as learners and as empathetic and active agents.

Morris Hall has been busy. In Week 9 the students experienced ‘Safety Week’ with reflections and presentations on different aspects of safety, including road safety and the safe handling of pets and other animals. The students are also looking forward to Thursday’s author visit this week. I’ve had the privilege of visiting lessons in every year level at Morris Hall in Term 2, and have seen the tremendous learning and focus occurring as key skills are introduced. Our teachers in these classrooms are pedagogical experts and their lessons are both engaging and developmentally appropriate.

At Merton Hall, many of our VCE students completed the General Achievement Test (GAT) and exams, significant milestones in their VCE credentialling. We wish all of these students a well-earned rest after the intensity of study. GSV Weekly Sport Finals were also an exciting highlight of Week 9. Our Senior A Football team have won a fourth consecutive GSV AFL Premiership and as a result have once again been invited to represent GSV in AFL Victoria’s Herald Sun Shield competition in August. The Junior A AFL team, Junior E Netball team and Junior B Hockey teams all made it to their respective Grand Finals. Congratulations to all students who participated in Finals last week. Students also participated in the Junior Science Olympiad, undertaking challenging but rewarding exams to extend their engagement with higher-level scientific problems.

Year 9 students have completed their journey to Arnhem Land. The cultural connection with the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land offers Grammarians a rich insight into an aspect of Australian culture and society that can be less visible living in a city such as Melbourne. Following the journey, parents are invited to attend the ‘Giving Back’ event where students present their learnings. This is often a moving event, as Grammarians reflect on their evolving understanding of their country and their connection to the people and place. We are grateful to the Yolngu people who continue to welcome MGGS and give so generously of themselves during our visits.

Year 11 are also departing for their retreat, an important part of their development as leaders of the School this week. The School’s staff leadership team are looking forward to working with this group as they step up into significant responsibilities in the coming months.

Thank you again to everyone who has made this semester so rewarding. The MGGS community of students, staff, parents, Old Grammarians and other supporters is strong and supportive.

Lynda Wall
Deputy Principal – Educational Leadership: Academic