“No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced” ― David Attenborough 

When we held our whole School review in 2019, one of the requests from parents and students was for more outdoor education to be implemented in the curriculum. So, in response we incorporated this into our 2020-2025 Strategic Plan. You may have seen us advertise for a Head of Outdoor Education recently. This is an exciting new position, and the successful candidate will work with our Artemis Team to develop a whole School outdoor education program bespoke to girls and young women. There is much research that supports the more we as humans are exposed to outdoor education, camping and the natural environment the more we are likely to care and think about our impact as Attenborough’s opening quote suggests. This position will commence in 2023 and we will be keen to see our Grammarians hiking, camping and discovering their personal strengths and resilience as they explore our wonderful Australian environment. 

The student led process of renaming Batman House is almost complete. The shortlisted names of Bryce, Blackwood and Balayang were favourably received, and we have had a large number participate in this democratic process. Voting by alumnae and current students (Year 4 to Year 12) was held on Friday 2 September and we now have all the voting results in, and external auditors Deloitte are reviewing the process and confirming the results. This is a significant part of the MGGS history. Although it has been an internal process it has caught the attention of the wider community.  We are proud that so many generations of Grammarians have had their say and contributed to the final outcome. 

Our Year 11 and 12 Grammarians are working diligently as the exams as approach and the important GAT is this week. Our student leadership for 2023 is now in place and the hum and buzz of the school days continue unabated. Please join me in congratulating the 2023 Student Executive council (SEC): 

• • School Captain: Audrey 
  • School Vice Captains: Charlotte and Zoe 
  • Batman Captains: Anouk, Madeline
  • Clarke Captains: Millicent, Sophia 
  • Hensley Captains: Sarah, Maisie 
  • Mungo Captains: Zoe, Lily
  • Taylor Captains: Pippa, Beatrice 
  • Boarding House Captains: Eliza, Nindhi 
  • Art Captains: Leyla, Riley 
  • Community and Environment Captains: Arabella, Eloise 
  • Drama Captains: Amaya, Kristina 
  • Music Captains: Chelsea, Zara
  • Sports Captains: Zoe, Arielle
  • STEM Captains: Elke, Rosemary

Our Year 12 students are counting off their ‘lasts at MGGS’. This is a time of mixed emotions for our senior students as they prepare for their final VCE examinations and begin to farewell the School. The 2022 Year 12s have been a wonderful cohort; remarkable Grammarian representatives in every way and fine role models to our younger students and I thank them personally for their fine contribution to their school. I have observed them over the last term putting in the hard work required for personal best, and I know that their teachers and families have wrapped much support around them. They are a united cohort and they have lived the values of the School. Over the mid-term break they will be studying hard with the support of their teachers so that they are well prepared for the upcoming exams. Our community will soon be coming together to honour the many successes of the Class of 2022. The hard work, achievements, and contribution to the life of the School by this outstanding group will be recognised in numerous important events as the valedictory season fast approaches.  

When we get back next term we will have the final Parents Association meeting for the year.  It will be held on 11 October and will involve thanking the outgoing President Tammy Read and Treasurer Amanda Evans-Greenwood and the election of their successors.  Being a part of the Parents Association is a wonderful way to engage more fully with your daughter’s school and I would strongly encourage you to think about putting in an Expression of Interest by Sunday 9 October. You can read more about the positions and how to apply here.  Tammy and Amanda have been remarkable in their roles having undertaken two terms in office.  We will miss them greatly from the Committee and will celebrate their efforts appropriately at the PA Thank you event later in Term 4. 

It has been another busy term; please ensure over the term break that you rest and reenergize ready for the completion of the 2022 academic year! Please remember to put Speech Night firmly in your diaries and I look forward to this special evening of celebration. This is a compulsory event for all Grammarians from Years 5 through to Year 11. It is held at The Melbourne Town Hall on Wednesday 30 November. 

Yours in learning, 

Dr Toni E Meath
Principal