I think that your sense of belonging is like a school uniform. The moment you put it on, from the outside, it is obvious that you are part of something bigger.
— Tabitha Chamberlain, Clarke House Captain, Class of 2025

A very warm welcome to the 2025 academic year – our 133rd year as a great girls’ School. We are very proud of our contribution to the educational and feminist landscape of Melbourne and beyond. I am honoured to be Principal, and I am so pleased to be back within the fold of our community. It makes my ‘heart sing’ to be amidst our Grammarians and feeling the optimism that only a new school year can bring. 

This year, I have purposefully started my Principal’s Update with a quote by a Grammarian, for they are our greatest teachers. Each Principal’s Update in 2025 will begin with a quote from something profound one of our Grammarians (ELC 3 to Year 12) has said! 

The Lunar New Year has recently been celebrated by many of our families and In the Chinese calendar 2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake. Wood Snakes are said to be precise, calm, creative, and possess logical thinking – this bodes well for all of us and especially our Year 12s as they set their ambitions high in their VCE. So, let’s set our intentions for 2025 to harness the accuracy and imagination of the snake and make 2025 a fabulous community year. 

On our first day with all staff, we focused on professional learning and getting everything in excellent shape ‘right from the start’. Our professional learning text this year is by expert psychologist Dr Judith Locke titled ‘The Bonsai Student’. We are fortunate to have engaged Dr Locke as a critical friend and provider of learning for our staff, Grammarians and parents. Teaching staff have already engaged in a four-hour workshop with Dr Locke so that they are able to commence the year setting a collective tone of high expectations. The premise of her work is that, as parents and educators, we play an important role in growing our young people in being resilient, self-regulated, resourceful, respectful and responsible. This year you will hear our staff discussing this with your daughters and encouraging a developmentally appropriate independent growth mindset. I encourage you to purchase her 2015 text ‘The Bonsai Child’ aimed equally for parents of Preps to Year 12s. I consider the parent sessions compulsory attendance for all parents. Your attendance and understanding of her work will put us all on the same page so please place the relevant date in your diary. Parents can find session times for Dr Judith Locke’s seminars on eVI here. 

Our year started well before the academic year with the co-curricular season. We had two groups of Grammarians safely return to Melbourne after successful international trips. Our fourth exchange to our sister school, The Bishop Strachan School, Toronto, Canada was very successful, with eight Year 10 students representing MGGS and Australia as fine ambassadors. Our World Challenge Borneo trip was highly challenging and equally successful with our Grammarians learning to be independent and resilient. The annual Rowing Camp was a great success with the support of the MHRC, under the leadership of our Head of Rowing, Angus Seller and Head of Sport, Anthony Bruhn. Thank you to the staff who give so generously of their time, to enable co-curricular events to happen. Our Godolphin Exchange students have arrived and are very happy and settled in their classes and proudly wearing our uniform. Thank you to our families who have generously opened their homes to host these young UK visitors.

Our Year 12 Launch Day on Wednesday 30 January was a day of energy, setting the focus and intentions for the year and reconnecting with peers. Our guest speaker Rana Hussain spoke candidly about her life, career and the importance of belonging and connection, encouraging the Class of 2025 to support each other through the highs and lows that come with Year 12. On this day, the SEC selected their chosen charity for 2025: Anglicare. Year 12 are ready for a big and fulfilling year. The final year of school is the culmination of 13 years of formal education and our Year 12 Grammarians are more than ready to approach it with a ‘The Climb’ attitude! I love this year’s motto as it shows determination and courage and, as I said at our Assembly, “you learn to climb mountains by climbing mountains, and you learn to do hard things by doing hard things”. I spoke to Year 12 about leading the whole School with optimism and developing a presence. If they are to leave MGGS as ethical women of action and to be influencers in their chosen careers, then they need to be ‘comfortable in their own skin’ and to be someone that others want to listen to.

Our Morris Hall Welcome Breakfast on Friday 31 January was well attended and humming with parents, guardians and students catching up. It is always a delight to observe the students welcoming new Grammarians and seeing their teachers for the first time this year. The enthusiasm and optimism of the Morris Hall students is wonderful. 

The Boarders’ Welcome Barbecue was a happy and relaxed evening on Friday 31 January. This event allowed opportunities for our Boarding families to get to know each other. One of the great benefits of Boarding at Melbourne Girls Grammar is the special bond that the boarders develop, and the quality of the relationships created between the students, their families and the School. Thank you to our Director of Boarding, Amanda Haggie, and her team for a fantastic event!

The Chapel of Belonging held on Monday 3 February was a significant rite of passage for our Middle Years Grammarians. Year 12 Clarke House Captain, Tabitha Chamberlain gave a special address at this event reflecting on belonging at MGGS. Tabitha likened a sense of belonging at MGGS to a new school uniform. She states, “The moment you put it on, from the outside, it is obvious that you are part of something bigger. Your uniform stands as a symbol that you are all part of the same team.” Her address is included in its entirety here – very impressive in delivery and sentiment. 

Thank you to the parents and guardians who have volunteered as Parent Representatives, Auxiliary Committee members, Parents Association members or who are supporting the School in diverse and varied ways for 2025. These volunteering roles are vital in the good running of a high performing school and are often the ‘glue’ that brings our community together. We are still to fill the role of Parents Association President, so if you are keen to take up this role, please let the Community Office know.

The Clowes Street red brick wall is currently being rebuilt and so this means the footpath in the section adjacent to the Barbara Tolson Early Learning Centre will be inaccessible for an extended period. Additionally, the St Hilda’s Garden is out of action and cordoned off for safety. We understand that this is going to be a inconvenience for many parents and students. Thank you for your patience while this construction is taking place.

I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting many new and current families and students at the gate in the mornings and afternoons. Schools are optimistic places, and it has been a lively and happy start. 

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer and take time to appreciate the beautiful city in which we live. It’s nice to be back!

Yours in learning,

Dr Toni E Meath
Principal