3 minute read
At home in Year 7
Pictured above: Year 7 Co-ordinator Kylie Warner with Year 7 students (L-R) Serena Yap and Lily Koch.
AT HOME IN
OUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE YEAR 7 STUDENTS
Lily Koch, 7L
Serena Yap, 7K
An MLC student since Prep, Serena Yap watched the Nicholas Learning Centre being built, knowing it would become her learning home for Years 7 and 8.
“I was super excited about starting Year 7 there. The classrooms are really designed for working together and the social areas make it easy to make friends,” says Serena. “It’s a lot of nice people in one space,” adds Lily Koch, who joined MLC this year. Both Year 7 students are enjoying MLC’s combination of exciting opportunities, new friendships and a nurturing environment. Serena has signed up for the debating and pottery clubs and is representing MLC in softball. Lily raced in five events at a Girls Sport Victoria swimming carnival, experiencing the MLC team spirit in full voice.
EXCEPTIONAL CARE
The Year 7 Home Groups are designed to bridge the gap between the primary school classroom and traditional secondary setting, ensuring students feel a sense of familiarity and belonging.
“My Home Group teacher is super supportive. We get lots of advice on how to stay calm and organised,” Serena says. “For the first two weeks, our teachers came and met us and walked us to the right classroom. That was so helpful,” Lily says. That special care is all part of the Year 7 experience at MLC, says Kylie Warner, one of two Year 7 Co-ordinators who work with Home Group teachers to create a happy, student-centred transition to secondary school.
“As well as a daily catch-up at roll call and regular wellbeing sessions, the Home Group teacher takes at least one subject with their group,” Kylie explains. “They have one-on-one meetings with every student at least once a term. We introduced this during 2020 and found it to be a really important way of connecting with the girls.”
A NETWORK FOR SUCCESS
The Year 7 Co-ordinators and Home Group teachers catch up regularly with Head of Junior School Cathie Ireland and Deputy Head Penny Church.
“It’s about making sure we, as a team, all have a strong understanding of the cohort and the individual students. We think of it as a safety net and we can look to the MLC Counselling team for extra support if we need it,” Penny says.
The Big Sister program is also a great help, with dedicated Year 11 students sharing advice and friendship with their Year 7 peers.
TRANSITION STARTS IN YEAR 5
MLC’s strategy is to help students feel they are a part of the MLC community well before their first day of Year 7, regardless of which primary school they attend.
The transition program starts with a welcome interview for students and parents, meeting with either Cathie Ireland or Penny Church. These interviews are now usually held in Year 5, so that students and parents can relax and enjoy Year 6, feeling reassured about secondary school.
A curriculum information night is held during Year 6, with Star and House badges sent to the students soon after. They are also invited to join MLC’s online student hub during Year 6, so they can start to get a sense of College life even before spending Orientation Day with their Home Group.
“We want them to feel like they are already an MLC student,” Penny says.
