3 minute read
From the Principal
RESILIENCE AND FLEXIBILITY AS WE LOOK TO THE
As we reflect on a period of incredible challenge and change, this edition of The Star is aptly focused on ‘resilience and flexibility’.
Indeed, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has required us all to draw on both these qualities as we have traversed extended and snap lockdowns, months of online, at-home learning and sustained local and global uncertainty. MLC students found inner strength last year, embracing opportunities to develop their resilience as the College pivoted to a program of online learning and wellbeing. I was so impressed with students’ engagement and their focus, despite the challenges and the very real disappointments. Everyone demonstrated impressive flexibility and creativity, finding new ways to connect with each other, new hobbies and activities to enjoy and, of course, new ways of learning. In particular, I am so proud of our Class of 2020, who did not let the pandemic deter them from achieving outstanding academic success. This year, it has been impressive to see students at all levels transition again – to our new ‘COVID-normal’. The return to onsite teaching and learning has reminded us how much we appreciate face-to-face interaction, and how important this is for effective education. At the same time, there are some aspects of the online learning experience that MLC has retained, such as online parent teacher interviews, having discovered that the flexibility of this delivery mode is valued by parents, teachers and students.
Female resilience has been a public theme in recent months, in terms of unacceptable harassment, discrimination and violence towards women. As a school committed to developing ‘worldready women’, it is shocking to me to see the extent to which Australian women and girls – let alone our sisters around the world – still need to fight for a safe, fair community. Similarly, recent data from the Women’s Gender Equality Agency is dispiriting, particularly around the gender pay gap, which it forecasts will take another 26 years to close. In this context, our students will need resilience, creativity and courage to forge ahead. As an all-girls school, our role is to empower girls and build their confidence from an early age – as the pages ahead attest. In March, our International Women’s Day Senior School Assembly, as well as events hosted by MLC’s Parents’ Association and Old Collegians’ Club, were opportunities to hear from past students who are committed to making the world a better place. Such inspiring MLC community role models give us cause for optimism. Through the work of these ‘citizens the world needs’, and with the recent groundswell of public opinion, I hope to see faster progress for women in our society. We have much to celebrate in this edition of The Star. Our cover reveals our new home for Year 9 students – the re-developed Dr Wood Learning Centre, named in honour of former Principal, Rev Dr A H Wood. I hope you will enjoy reading about our students’ first learning and social experiences in this stunning new space, as well as the special memories shared by two of Dr Wood’s children, Janet Secomb (Wood 1944) and D’Arcy Wood. We also recognise the incredible contribution of Marjorie Nicholas OAM (Thompson 1956) as she steps down after five years as Chair of the MLC Foundation. An inspirational philanthropist, Marjorie has always led the way as a passionate advocate for girls’ education. We welcome our newly appointed Chair of the MLC Foundation, Claire Rogers, who is a current parent and MLC Board member.
We celebrate MLC Marshmead’s 30th birthday this year! Our Marshmead and Middle School staff showed incredible resilience and flexibility in 2020 to reimagine Marshmead for online delivery, and to then ensure that all students had the opportunity to experience Marshmead in person as soon as state restrictions allowed.
It has been wonderful to see our MLC Reunion Program return to in-person gettogethers. If you are an Old Collegian with a reunion scheduled for 2021, I warmly encourage you to attend. Finally, I am thrilled to report that in Term 1, our MLC swimming team won the GSV Swimming Championship for the 20th consecutive year by 160 points (the greatest margin ever recorded!) This is an unrivalled achievement. Congratulations to all our swimmers, our swimming coaches and of course our enthusiastic cheer squad (including many parents!) Best wishes,
