What a fabulous beginning to Term 4! After conquering their VCE Trial Examinations during the term break, Year 12 have celebrated their final days as MGGS students with our Valedictory Chapel, Assembly and Dinner. Beautiful words of acknowledgement and encouragement have been gifted to every girl, and tears of happiness that convey cherished memories of what they have experienced together have infected us all with nostalgia for this wonderful cohort of girls. May they travel well through the VCE Examinations in coming days.
Over the weekend our Year 10 and VCE Algorithmics students participated in the Smart Cities Blockchain Hackathon. The Panel of Judges consisted of Dr. Jonathan Reichental, CIO for the City of Palo Alto, Chami Akmeemana, Chairman of the Blockchain Association of Australia, and our School Captain Millie Perkins. MGGS entered two teams, who, over the course of the weekend, programmed Decentralised Applications on the Ethereum Blockchain. They created a peer-to-peer insurance DAPP, ‘Peak Medical Insurance’, and a publicly verifiable trusted voting DAPP, ‘MySay’. The ‘MySay’ team won third place in the field of predominantly professional participants.
The 2017 Art Exhibition again drew admiration for the scope of creativity and themes explored by students ELC – Year 12. The talent of our girls in collaboration with our talented teachers produces exceptional artwork. Winner of the Principal’s Art Acquisition Award is Alessi Di’Andrea (Year 12) for her work, “Pianta”. I was delighted to select Alessi’s artwork to hang in the Principal’s Office for 12 months as part of the School’s Art Collection. We wish Year 12 Art students the very best as they present their portfolios and works to the VCE examiners.
The Celebration of Sport Dinner was well attended, with Athletes of the Year announced in 8 sports. Congratulations to these committed and passionate sports women:
- Athletics – Kate Morgan, Year 11
- Swimming – Gabriella Peiniger, Year 9
- Rowing – Julia Bowes, Year 12
- Snowsports – Catherine Heyburn, Year 10
- Equestrian – Annabel Nelson, Year 11
- Playball – Zara Wilson, Year 6
- Wildfell – Lola Dahan, Year 6
- Saturday Netball – Charlotte Cornelissen, Year 10
Congratulations to Jasmine Cash (Year 10) who was awarded the Caroline Wilson Sports Media Prize for demonstrating great commitment and passion for showcasing sporting endeavours through MGGS publications, and to Millie Perkins (Year 11) for winning the Pierre de Coubertin Award which recognises secondary school students who are active participants in sport and demonstrate attributes consistent with the fundamental aims of the Olympic movement.
At the beginning of the Term 3 break, I received advice that Rob Cooper has accepted the role of Director of Sport at Lauriston. He has been a valuable team member at MGGS for 6 years, facilitating a well-rounded and successful sports and activities program, and we wish him well in this next chapter of his career.
We are pleased to announce that we have moved quickly to ensure this important position is filled with a high quality candidate. Mr Andrew Nichol has accepted the new role as Director of Sport and will join us in January 2018. Andrew comes to us after having spent 6 years at the Melbourne Football Club as a Development Coach, Manager of Player Welfare, and Manager of Football Operations. Prior to this, Andrew was Head of PE and Sport at Scotch College Junior School. Andrew’s desire to return to his first love – education – opened a door for us to create a role that will see Andrew working alongside Sally Bailey to build on the strong platform of our current sport program. Leadership and strategy, people and culture, coaching and administration will be his focus. Fundamentally, it is our vision for MGGS Sport to aspire to achieving three pillars of success – Participation, Performance and Personal Development. The team moving forward will work collaboratively to create a welcoming and inclusive sport program, a mindset of endeavour, goal setting and personal achievement, and promoting physical activity, movement, wellbeing, health and sport.
Finally, I am grateful to the School Council for supporting my sabbatical leave these next three weeks. I shall be combining study in London with reflection and rest, and look forward to returning to the season of community events that round out our year.