From the Principal: 22 August 2022
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From the Principal: 22 August 2022

I ask our Grammarians to be curious, to get involved and to be brave in trying new things. Over the last few weeks, I have witnessed this daily. An important disposition for learning is perseverance and developing the ‘grit’ to continue and persist when learning is hard. This was demonstrated at the recent Merton Hall Concert on Tuesday 9 August, held at The Edge, Federation Square. It was a new venue for this long-awaited event, and it didn’t disappoint. The intimacy created by having the musicians so close to the audience set the stage for an exceptional evening. Music is a powerful expression of human feeling and can convey and evoke memories of different times, places and emotions in a manner that mere words often fail at. From our combined choirs to the Wildfell Strings, Senior Strings, our Merton Chamber voices, Guitar Ensemble, orchestra, Jazz Combo and much, much more, the night was a showcase of music collaboration. Thank you to our Director of Music, Mrs Elizabeth Du Blet, and the Music Faculty for supporting our Grammarians. I cried at the beauty of the evening and could have watched the concert in its entirety twice. It was exceptional!

On Thursday 11 August, we held a baptism and confirmation service in the MGGS Chapel of St Luke. The service was led by the Archbishop of Melbourne, The Most Reverend Dr Philip Freir and supported by our Chaplain, Reverend Kirsty Ross. Congratulations to our Grammarian candidates who have made this rite of passage part of their spiritual journey and commitment to their faith in God, including Serafina Lastrina, Scarlett Troise, Stephanie Adamson, Allegra Huntley, Georgia Ryan, Sophia Perton and Lillian Wolfe. 

We are a ‘readerly and writerly’ community, and it was with great pleasure that we invited 2022 Stella Prize Winner and author Evelyn Araluen to MGGS on Monday 15 August to talk about her book, Drop BearDrop Bear is a collection of poetry and essays that interrogate the complexities of colonial history in the Australian context through an indigenous lens. Our Grammarians gave impressive critical reflections on their close examination of Araluen’s work and asked careful and intelligent questions. Thank you to Mrs Alexandra Grimwade and our students’ English teachers for preparing our Grammarians so well. Furthermore, continuing in this literary space, we are very excited to continue as a proud sponsor of the Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF). The MWF has a dynamic program, including workshops, talks, digital experiences, competitions, and book signings on a range of topics relevant to all ages. Through our partnership, our community receives a discount on all ticketed events. Use the code MGGS10 when booking full-priced tickets online via mwf.com.au. An MWF author will be joining us here at MGGS for exclusive events. Claire Coleman will discuss with us her latest book, Enclave on Monday 3 October. Reading is such a joy, and in our quest to create lifelong learners, this partnership is aptly suited to our School. Our association with both the MWF and the Stella Prize models that we are serious in our pursuit of a scholarly approach to learning.

Grammarians India and Charlotte with Reverend Kirsty Ross and Archbishop of Melbourne, The Most Reverend Dr Philip Freir.

On 19 August, I accompanied our Chaplain, Reverend Kirsty Ross and senior students, India Mair and Charlotte Goodger to Melbourne Grammar to attend an event hosted by the Archbishop of Melbourne, The Most Reverend Dr Philip Freir titled ‘Coping with the Climate Crisis’. Many other schools were in attendance and it was terrific to listen to the engaging panel share their thoughts and respond to questions from a highly engaged audience.

In closing, the Parents Association 2022 Navy Blue Dinner was also a fantastic event. If the old saying is true that ‘joy creates connection’, then there were certainly many community connections strengthened on the night, as it was so joyful! Thank you to the parents and allies who were so generous in their donations and our community who bid at the silent and live auctions and purchased raffle tickets. The profits raised have purchased the Morris Hall solar energy system. Deep respect and gratitude to Julie Chiodo and the Navy Blue Committee, who worked tirelessly to ensure a fantastic night was had by all!

 

“We only know a tiny proportion about the complexity of the natural world. Wherever you look, there are still things we don’t know about and don’t understand. There are always new things to find out if you go looking for them.”― David Attenborough

The last few weeks in Melbourne have been cold and wet. Our Grammarians have been seeking out the warmest spaces throughout the School. It is lovely to be in a warm classroom with one’s peers immersed in learning in winter! As a teacher, these were always my favourite days, in the scholarly cocoon of a warm classroom with inclement weather outside. On my daily walk through the School, I am pleased with how our Grammarians respect, use and care for our wonderful facilities and how they are getting on with their job of being curious and engaged scholars.

Yours in learning

Dr Toni E. Meath
Principal