Over the holiday period, many preparations have been made for Semester 2. We continue to renovate our learning areas and there has been extensive painting and cleaning across all campuses to ensure our classrooms are of an excellent standard. The refurbishment of Phelia Grimwade to provide three new state-of-the-art classrooms is progressing well. Additionally, our teachers have been working conscientiously in preparing the learning for Semester 2 to be innovative and inspiring.
We are excited that five of our Grammarians received VCE Premier’s Awards in Week 1 for their success in the 2023 VCE. Congratulations to Eloise Bisley (2023) for Philosophy, Yier Hong for Classical Studies, Ondine Thompson for Equine Studies (VCE VET), as well as Esther Nastri and Ava Allen for Drama. We also congratulate their VCE teachers who supported them in this journey: Caroline Foster, Olivia Wilson and Dr Lenny Robinson.
The long-awaited remediation works to the School’s perimeter red brick wall along Anderson and Clowes Streets will begin in the coming weeks. The remediation will be carried out in two stages. Stage One will involve a temporary solution, along Anderson Street and the western end of Clowes Street. This temporary solution will take approximately eight weeks. Upon completion, the barriers along Anderson Street will be removed and the footpath will be reopened to the public. Stage Two will focus on dismantling the remainder of the brick wall along Clowes Street, constructing a new inground structure, and rebuilding the boundary wall. This two-staged approach is the result of intensive planning and collaboration with Heritage Architects, engineers, the City of Melbourne, and the School’s supporting contractors. We will keep our community updated on the progress of the works and any changes that may affect our Grammarians. Most importantly, the areas will be cordoned off and safe for our community and the public.
On the weekend of 20 and 21 July, I travelled to Mt Buller to be present for the MGGS Snowsports Camp and House Cup. Our Grammarians compete in alpine racing, moguls, cross country and snowboarding. We had over 90 students on the mountain competing and engaging with great ‘sportswomanship’ and fierce determination. I was impressed with every Grammarian and in awe of their skill levels from Prep through to Year 12; they flew down the mountain with such style and grace. The Snowsports Auxiliary support our Grammarians to be their best and it is great to feel this sense of community. Thank you to Chair, Emilie Fary, and the entire Snowsports Auxiliary for giving so generously of their time to enable our students to have these opportunities. Thank you to our new Head of Snowsports, Ms Renee Knight, Head of Sport and Coaching, Mr Anthony Bruhn, and our Snowsports team: Cecilia Pettersson, Ellie Tomanovits, Elle Sankey and Chloe Waddell as well as Artemis Team members Rob Houghton and Sarah McClary. It was a fabulous weekend. A big congratulations to Blackwood House on their fourth Snowsports House Cup win in a row!
The Biennial Anglican School Service at St Paul’s Cathedral was also a special moment and a wonderful coming together of Victorian Anglican Schools recently.
Annual Giving at MGGS is taking a different direction this year. Rather than sending out a letter asking far and wide for donations, we are instead having a Giving Day on Thursday 15 August. Our focus is on ensuring our built environment is the best it can be and the theme for Giving Day is the ‘Red Brick Appeal’. You can read more about this on the MGGS Website. Thank you to those who have already given. I hope our whole community can join in and consider giving on 15 August, so that we can continue to create amazing learning spaces and care for our heritage buildings. Funds raised will go towards the creation and modernisation of dedicated learning spaces within our iconic red brick buildings.
Communication is important between home and School and we encourage you to connect with us if you have any concerns or queries. We respectfully ask that emails are sent between 7.30am and 6.00pm, Mondays to Fridays, and our staff will endeavour to reply within 24 hours. If there is a matter of urgency, please contact Reception.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind Grammarians of the importance of wearing the uniform correctly. Our uniform is distinctive and identifies us in the wider community. The colours and crest are distinctively MGGS and have historically been an important part of our reputation as a school that encourages excellence – academic, sporting and artistic. School uniform is a visible sign of the School as an entity and of the individual student’s membership of our School. The wearing of a uniform symbolises both the wish to belong to the School and pride in the School. Students seeking to enrol at MGGS accept the responsibility to wear the School uniform as approved by the School Council on all occasions when they are representing the School, and in a manner which will bring credit to the School. We appreciate the active support parents give to upholding the School’s uniform policy and reinforcing the correct wearing of the uniform with their children. Some of the rules include, the School blazer must be worn to and from school, except on days of exceptional heat. Under no circumstances is the jumper to be worn as the outer garment. School socks or tights should be navy and skirts at a length just above the knee. Hair should be worn in a neat style and tied back, if longer than shoulder length, with white or navy hair accessories. Make up, jewellery and nail polish are not permitted.
We value keeping our student records accurate and so if there have been any changes to phone, email, parent/emergency contacts or medical information please let us know. It is important this information is updated as soon as there is any change, as we need to be able to contact parents if a student becomes unwell or in other cases of need.
I encourage all families to be involved in the education of their daughters whilst at MGGS. We have a vibrant and active Parents’ Association and multiple auxiliaries – so if you are considering further involvement, there are many ways that you can become connected.
Our staff are here to support the educational experience of all our students. Your daughters will be challenged academically, and we also encourage them to be involved and embrace all aspects of school life, including our extensive co-curricular program. We aim to provide a trusted space where students can be themselves, love learning and aspire to reach their potential, in a world-class learning environment with inspiring teachers. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
What a wonderful start to the Olympic Games in Paris over the weekend. This global competition, reminds us of the importance of peace and harmony in our world. It also shines a spotlight on the respect that comes from healthy competition. Is there any better forum for a celebration of excellence in human endeavour, of courage, commitment and integrity? The Olympics on so many levels are truly inspirational and show our Grammarians that they too can strive for their personal best with commitment and focus. We have born witness to the success of our female competitors already achieving Gold in the Cycling Time Trials and our swimmers in the pool – what wonderful role models indeed! The Opening Ceremony was a celebration of French culture, blurring geographic boundaries to highlight those who have contributed to French history from other parts of the world. One can only marvel at the artistic excellence of the performances, the outstanding industry, theatre and creative endeavours and thinking that has contributed to the nation. Diversity was highlighted, as was the strength of the women who have been innovators and ethical women of action across so many frontiers. Inherent in the ceremony were messages of the importance of youth, of heritage and learnings from history and optimism in how collectively and with unified focus, humans can really achieve great things.
Yours in learning
Dr Toni E. Meath
Principal