ISSUE 19 | SEMESTER 1 | 2020
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
STRIVE
OUR NEW AQUATIC PRECINCT | CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2019 MLC’S BEAZLEY MEDAL: WACE WINNER | A GARDEN OF KNOWLEDGE THE PHILOSOPHY OF PLAY | HOUSE SPIRIT | LEADING IN INNOVATION
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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Contents COUNCIL
1
FACILITIES 22
A Message from the Chair of Council
Dive into Our Aquatic Precinct
PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE 2
WELLBEING 24
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
4
99 Club Award Winners Our 2019 Report Card Beazley Medal: WACE Winner
LEARNING ADVENTURE
FOUNDATION 2020 Donor List
8
Innovation Studio
29
President’s Message
12
Events
PER ARDUA 14
32
President’s Message Events
Barclay Showcase Created Exhibition Reach for Success
STAFF IN FOCUS
Aquatic Precinct Blessing
PARENTS OF MLC
House Spirit
ARTISTIC PURSUITS
25
Chair of Foundation’s Message
Garden of Knowledge The Philosophy of Play Celebrating Success
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Attuning to Your Daughter
COMMUNITY 33 16
Faithful Portrayal
Leading Innovation: Mrs Meagan King
COLLEGIANS’ ASSOCIATION 34
LEADERSHIP 18
President’s Message
Our 2020 Prefects
Alumni News
BOARDING 21
ARCHIVES 37
Our Boarding Family
Our 2020 Prefects
Building a Sustainable Future MLC is committed to a sustainable future for our community and the wider world. As such, we are transitioning many of our printed publications, including Strive, into online formats. Our first digital version of Strive includes links to podcasts and videos that further illustrate our vibrant MLC community. We hope you enjoy the issue, which will remain available at mlc.wa.edu.au.
Edited by Jessica Matthews and designed by Natalie Bompard for the Communications and Engagement Team. 356 Stirling Highway Claremont WA 6010 PO Box 222 Claremont WA 6910 T +618 9384 4000 E mlc@mlc.wa.edu.au W mlc.wa.edu.au CRICOS Provider Code 00441G
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Environmental Management System accredited to ISO 14001 standards, with Level 3 Green Stamp accreditation. Pacesetter Coated is an FSC® Mix Certified paper, which ensures that all virgin pulp is derived from well-managed forests and controlled sources. It contains elemental chlorine-free bleached pulp and is manufactured by an ISO 14001 certified mill.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
“At MLC, we remain committed to providing the best educational opportunities for our girls.”
A Message from the Chair of Council Due to the COVID-19 situation, this year has presented unique and unforeseen challenges for schools around the world. I would like to commend the strong leadership of our Principal, Dr Perry, who has worked tirelessly with the College Council and senior staff to successfully steer MLC through these unprecedented times. The College’s strong sense of community has also been
each other. It adds greatly to MLC’s holistic approach
vital during this period. MLC has always focused on
to education, supporting learning across our Sport,
forging strong partnerships between students, staff and
Health and Wellbeing programmes. I would like to
parents, as we understand that such partnerships are vital
thank the many donors who generously supported this
for ensuring each girl can achieve her personal best. The
outstanding project.
strength of these connections ensured the success of
In December last year, we also had cause to celebrate
our students as they transitioned to our teacher-directed online learning programme and, not long after, back to face-to-face lessons on our campus. I thank all of our community members for their patience, understanding and commitment to working together during this time. Such global uncertainty has given many of us cause to consider those aspects of life that we can depend on— and the ethos of the College is certainly one of them.
the outstanding results of our 2019 graduates in their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses. Half of our girls scored in the top 10 per cent of students in WA, and 7 per cent scored in the top 1 per cent, while our students also achieved 11 VET certificates. I extend my particular congratulations to MLC graduate Charlie Singleton, who won the state’s top academic prize, the
At MLC, we remain committed to providing the best
Beazley Medal: WACE.
educational opportunities for our girls.
As we head into the second half of 2020, the Council looks
There have been many recent demonstrations of this.
forward to working closely with Dr Perry on the continued
Late last year, the Council, alongside Dr Perry, was delighted to work with Christ Church Grammar School on the completion of our shared Aquatic Precinct. As the first joint venture between our schools, this world-
implementation of our Strategic Plan, Towards 2025. In furthering the development of our contemporary learning programmes, we aim to prepare each and every MLC girl for success both at school and in her life beyond MLC.
class facility offers a space for students to develop new
Mr Nick Henry
skills, play games, challenge themselves and support
CHAIR OF COUNCIL
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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Principal’s Perspective “Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.” – Albert Einstein Amid the immense global difficulties triggered by the COVID-19 situation, there has also been much to celebrate about the way in which people everywhere— including here at MLC—have pulled together. Kindness, resilience, compassion and courage are just some of the virtues that come to mind when I reflect on how our community members have supported each other throughout this challenging time—whether that be through the fundraising efforts of our students, the immense dedication shown by our staff or the care and concern that individuals of all ages have shown each other. But there is another important attribute—and one that we always seek to harness in our MLC students— which has come to the fore: imagination. Although it’s not often talked about, we have seen it everywhere … in the resourceful responses of governments and the medical community, in the inventiveness of artists and musicians who have devised unique ways to connect with others, and in the sheer perseverance shown by every person who has confronted whatever challenges may have arisen in their life because they believe that someday soon, things will improve. They can imagine a better world.
“We understand learning is about more than academic endeavours.” At MLC, the sense of imagination—and innovation— that we always foster was vital for the rapid and successful development of our teacher-directed online learning programme, which saw our holistic offerings adapted into a digital format. In melding new
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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
technology with established methods of teaching and supporting students, our staff were required to think a long way outside of the box. Read more about our approach to innovation on page 16. We also saw imagination, along with resilience, in the way our students embraced this programme. This learning landscape may not have been familiar, but we were delighted to see our girls embrace the new possibilities—whether through connecting with peers in our online classrooms or by participating in a range of virtual co-curricular activities. Of course, we were delighted to have our students back on campus for face-to-face learning within a relatively short timeframe. While the global situation means we must stay alert and ready for any potential changes, we can be grateful for the positive outcomes achieved so far in Western Australia. The College remains, as always, dedicated to achieving the best educational outcomes for our girls. I would like to once again thank our MLC community members for their support during this time. Since the last issue of Strive, our girls have achieved many outstanding learning outcomes. I would like to congratulate the Class of 2019 on their exceptional Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) results, which you can read about on pages 4–7. Their collective achievements—including 11 VET certificates, ‘topperforming students’ status in 18 ATAR courses and the exceptional result achieved by Charlie Singleton in winning the prestigious Beazley Medal: WACE—reflect the breadth of our learning programme and our focus on enabling every girl to achieve her personal best. More broadly, I have been impressed by the way in which all our students have embraced the 2020 Principal’s Theme, which I announced earlier this year: Find Your Fire. In choosing this theme, I sought to inspire our girls to try new things and pursue their passions. They have done a marvellous job of living out this theme, whether that be through co-curricular pursuits or academic activities. Some excellent examples are showcased on pages 8–15 of this issue, and in the podcast featured on this page.
were thrilled to see this come to fruition on schedule late last year. At MLC, we understand that learning is about more than academic endeavours, and so the Aquatic Precinct adds yet another point of strength to our holistic programme. Once again, I thank all of our generous donors for their support of this project. Finally, I would like to celebrate the College’s recently ratified Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which aims to further our strong connections to Australia’s Indigenous community. MLC was founded on the ancestral lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, as is reflected in the names of our ELC–Year 6 learning facilities. MLC is also a proud partner of Yalari, an organisation that provides Indigenous children with
“At MLC, the sense of imagination—and innovation— that we always foster has been vital during this time.” opportunities to study at some of the country’s best schools. As stated in our RAP, we remain focused on engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a manner that leads to positive relationships and greater understanding. Together, we can continue to imagine—and work towards—achieving a reconciled Australia. Dr Marie Perry PRINCIPAL
Tune into our podcast episode Leading the Way to hear two of our Year 12s share their learnings from this year’s Student Leadership Conference in Sydney. mlc.wa.edu.au/experience-mlc/girls-on-fire-the-podcast
Over the past year, a major focus for the College has been on the completion of our new shared Aquatic Precinct with Christ Church Grammar School. We
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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
99 CLUB
Congratulations to our newest members of the 99 Club. These graduates received a score of 99 or above in their WACE examinations.
Charlie Singleton 99.95
Chana Van Wyk 99.65
• Chemistry
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Japanese: Second Language
• English as an Additional Language or Dialect
• Chemistry
• Literature • Mathematics Methods • Mathematics Specialist • Physics
Kate Kang 99.55
• Human Biology • Mathematics Methods • Mathematics Specialist • Physics
Jaime Dunn 99.4
• English • French: Second Language • Mathematics Methods • Physics
Siobhan Connolly 99.2
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Accounting and Finance
• English as an Additional Language or Dialect
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Modern History
• Chemistry
• Literature
• English
• Mathematics Methods
• Mathematics Methods
• Psychology
• Physics
• French: Second Language • Mathematics Methods • Mathematics Specialist • Physics
Hannah Chen 99.15
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Betty Wang 99.8
Christine Jang 99.1
Kylee Kotula 99.1
• Accounting and Finance
• Chemistry
• Chemistry
• Chinese: First Language
• English
• Human Biology
• Chemistry
• Japanese: Second Language
• Mathematics Methods
• English as an Additional Language or Dialect
• Mathematics Methods • Mathematics Specialist
• Materials Design and Technology
• Mathematics Methods
• Music
• English • Chinese: Second Language
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Academic Excellence Award Winners Each year the School Curriculum and Standards Authority awards students with outstanding results in their WACE examinations. General Exhibitions are awarded to the 50 students with the highest WACE scores. Certificates of Distinction are awarded to each student who, in their last three consecutive years of senior secondary WACE enrolment, achieves 190–200 points. Certificates of Merit are for those who achieve 150–189 points. The following girls received
Lucia Cardaci
Mattea Lefroy
Charlotte Butler
awards for their 2019 results.
Claire Carnley
Kristy Lo
Laura Chaar
Jemima Chan
Sofia Lowenhoff
Margot Cooney
Beazley Medal: WACE
Anna Clayton
Eva Miles
Lydia De Courtenay
Charlie Singleton
Siobhan Connolly
Anne Millar
Taylah Donnelly
Stella Corvaia
Anna Moursounidis
Cheyanne Fewings
General Exhibitions
Ella Cribb
Bridget Muir
Sienna Heath
Charlie Singleton
Eliza Davis
Lily Price
Niki Hessamodini
Chana Van Wyk
Britney De Silva
Sophie Rasmussen
Amanda Latif
Jaime Dunn
Sarah Robinson
Eliza Manuel
Subject Exhibition
Aimee Elsegood
Simone Saunders
Mia Mather
Zara Yaxley: Materials Design
Emilie England
Charlie Singleton
Olivia Morrison
and Technology
Georgina Erickson
Chana Van Wyk
Sienna Murie
Celine Ng: Music
Alexia Fassetta
Philippa Whiting
Emma Pennefather
Jessie He
Zara Yaxley
Sophia Reed
Certificates of Distinction
Genevieve Hennessy
Sophie Adams
Claire Henthorn
Certificates of Merit
Jacqueline Shearn
Isabelle Allet
Monica Hogan
Ella Amatulli
Ciara Thompson
Rodas Amanuel
Christine Jang
Amy Bantock
Anna Thomson
Grace Anwar
Kate Kang
Mia Beattie
Amberley Woo
Jaya Barlow
Kylee Kotula
Sophie Bennett
Angela Yang
Ariane Burton
Chloe Lee
Selam Berhane
Yutong Zhu
Kimberley Renner
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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
OUR 2019 REPORT CARD MLC’s 140 Year 12 graduates achieved outstanding results in both the 2019 Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses. The 134 students (95.7 per cent of the Year 12 cohort) who sat the WACE exams have continued to enhance the standing of the College as a leading academic school. They achieved the following results: • 95.7 per cent completed four or more Year 12 Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) courses. • 100 per cent of eligible students achieved the Western Australian Certificate of Education for secondary graduation. • The girls achieved a median ATAR of 89.95. • 9 students (7 per cent of the MLC ATAR and WACE graduate population) attained an ATAR of 99 or above, placing them in the top 1 per cent of students across WA.
MLC achieved ‘top-performing students’ status in 18 WACE ATAR courses including: • Accounting and Finance • Business Management and Enterprise • Biology • Chemistry • Economics • English • English as an Additional Language or Dialect • French: Second Language • Human Biology
• 18 students (13 per cent of the MLC ATAR and WACE graduate population) attained an ATAR of 98 or above, placing them in the top 2 per cent of students across WA.
• Japanese: Second Language
• 38 students (28 per cent of the MLC ATAR and WACE graduate population) attained an ATAR of 95 or above, placing them in the top 5 per cent of students across WA.
• Mathematics Methods
• 67 students (50 per cent of the MLC ATAR and WACE graduate population) attained an ATAR 90 or above, placing them in the top 10 per cent of students across WA. • 102 students (76 per cent) achieved the minimum ATAR requirement for gaining entry into most of the Group of Eight Universities across Australia, including UWA.
• Literature • Marine and Maritime Studies • Modern History • Music • Physical Education Studies • Physics • Psychology
• 121 students (90 per cent) achieved an ATAR that would provide entry into one of WA’s five universities.
NAPLAN VET 10 students studied and completed 12 VET courses with external Registered Training Organisations. They attained: • 2 Certificate IVs in Business • 2 Certificate IVs in Fitness • 1 Certificate III in Horsemanship • 4 Certificate IIs in Customer Engagement • 2 Certificate IVs in Nursing and Health Studies
Girls in Years 3, 5 ,7 and 9 took part in the National Assessment Programme – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) in 2019. This series of tests, which is compulsory in all schools in Australia, gives a snapshot of the nation’s children’s abilities in five key educational areas: numeracy, reading, spelling, grammar and writing. Percentage of 2019 MLC students achieving national benchmarks: NUMERACY
YEAR 3
YEAR 5 YEAR 7
YEAR 9
98
100
100
100
READING
100
100
99
98
SPELLING
98
98
99
99
GRAMMAR
100
95
100
98
WRITING 100 100 100 98 6
ACADEMIC
2019 Beazley Medal: WACE Winner
EXCELLENCE
Charlie Singleton never expected to win the 2019 Beazley Medal: WACE, the state’s most prestigious academic award for secondary students. “There was never any time when I seriously thought about it,” she said. “I think a couple of friends or family members may have thrown it out there but I just kind of laughed it off, like, ‘That’s not possible.’ “Even when I got the phone call from the Head of SCSA [School Curriculum and Standards Authority], I was worried that there was some kind of problem—it did not even cross my mind in that moment.” Such humility is typical of Charlie, who was also unsure if she would become Dux of her class. “I honestly didn’t feel confident in that,” she said, although she went onto win the prize and achieve a perfect ATAR of 99.95. “And then I found out I was the Beazley medallist.” A cautious and steady mindset was partly the reason for her outstanding results. “You kind of need a few nerves,” she said, explaining that they drove her to work harder. “[It’s about] channelling that stress or anxiety into preparing rather than hiding away and saying, ‘It’s too much for me.’ That is what helps you to succeed.” Her academic talent was also enhanced by her natural curiosity and love of learning. In Year 12, she studied six ATAR subjects: Japanese: Second Language, Literature, Mathematics Methods, Mathematics Specialist, Physics and Chemistry. “Spec [Mathematics Specialist] was consistently really fun,” she reflected. “I mean, the content was really hard, but it was also really interesting.”
Charlie, who plays saxophone and clarinet, said it was important to continue with her music commitments throughout Year 12. This included participation in the College’s Symphony and Jazz Orchestras. “I think what I did do well was to make a good balance for myself,” she said of her study routine. “I just tried to stick with things I was enjoying … I still spent time with friends and I kept up my music and I kept doing gymnastics training a couple of times a week.” Most vital of all, however, was her social network at MLC. “I think all of the friendships and relationships you make at school are probably the most valuable thing—not only with students but with teachers as well. You make such good connections with some teachers and they really help you through a lot. Looking back, that’s so valuable, and I don’t think a lot of schools would offer that. They were constantly checking in with you and making sure you did your absolute best.” Charlie is now studying a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne, and is planning to major in Chemical Engineering.
Hear more about Charlie’s road to the Beazley Medal: WACE in season one of our podcast. mlc.wa.edu.au/experience-mlc/girls-on-fire-the-podcast
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LEARNING ADVENTURE
Garden of Knowledge Year 5 Teacher Ms Pippa Depiazzi described the Kindergarten–Year 6 Community Garden as a “living, growing outside classroom”. In Term 2, it provided fertile ground for our Year 5s to undertake unique activities across a range of learning areas including Science, English, Mathematics and Design and Technology. “Our big theme for Semester 1 has been growth,” she said. “Through the garden, we’re investigating eco-systems as well as sustainability.” Tasks have ranged from weeding to composting to companion planting (a practice that enables gardeners to avoid the use of sprays and chemicals while also enabling plants to thrive). Such activities reflect the College’s focus on inquiry-based learning, which promotes students to actively engage with—and thus better comprehend—ideas and topics explored in class. This approach is especially relevant in the garden, which Ms Depiazzi said is “all about real-life problem-solving. It’s important for the girls to get their hands dirty and actually see how things evolve. Students often learn in a compartmentalised way, and, of course, nature is not like that. We might get out there and find we need to do something other than what we had planned.” This flexible approach opens up unique opportunities for learning. “Every time we go out there a student says, ‘Ah! There’s a spider!’ But that’s actually a teachable moment, because we can talk about the fact that it has a little home and how, if we killed it, that would impact the insects it ate and the birds that ate it.” She adds: “I think you get much deeper, more long-term learning through a programme like this because the students are engaging their brain in something that relates to them and their direct experience with it. We’re very lucky that the philosophy of MLC really supports this type of learning.”
Hear about our Kindergarten–Year 6 Sustainability Committee via the MLC podcast. mlc.wa.edu.au/experience-mlc/girls-on-fire-the-podcast
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LEARNING ADVENTURE
“You get much deeper, more long-term learning through a programme like this.”
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LEARNING ADVENTURE
THE PHILOSOPHY OF
PLAY
Explore our Kindergarten–Year 6 learning community. mlc.wa.edu.au/learning/junior-years
Children learn through play. But there is a continuum—from the absolute free-for-all you see happening on a playground through to the sort of play that develops fundamental skills for learning. At MLC, we harness all of these experiences, whether that be through the considered design of our nature play areas, which the girls use at recess and lunch, or through our carefully structured curriculum. By embracing a play-based approach to education, we draw on the natural way that young children learn best. At its heart, the philosophy of play is about engagement. Even as adults, we know that the best learning often happens when you’re really interested and involved in what you’re doing. In the upper years of school, we call it inquiry-based learning—and this is something MLC is very focused on. When we provide provocations or ideas that allow the kids to use their creativity and imagination, it’s often then that the most wonderful things can happen. In the early years in particular, it’s about taking the interests of the children and evolving the learning programme to reflect those interests. A good example occurred a few years ago—a Year 1 brought a beetle into class, and the kids were just fascinated by it. So for the next two weeks, the beetle became the focus of the learning programme, and everything was centred around exploring this interest, whether that be through Maths, Science or Reading. This approach involves
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the teacher being thoroughly aware of the learning outcomes for their particular year level but also being able to respond to the children’s interests in a way that optimises this learning. In the older year groups, it’s about trying to make the learning active and engaging for the children. They’re not just filling in a worksheet or acquiring knowledge— they’re dynamically developing skills and concepts. For example, our Year 6s were recently working with rain gauges and weather stations in their Science unit, and our Year 5s created their own biomes as part of their Biology studies. Our focus on differentiation and academic enrichment is also important, as it means we ensure that every girl is engaged through her learning and supported to achieve her personal best. In a modern world, anyone can google knowledge, but the development of skills is essential. By drawing on the principles of play, we enable our girls to develop fundamental attributes—including creativity, flexibility, critical thinking skills and the ability to work with others—which will be vital for their success both at school and in their future careers. Mr Michael Brown ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ELC–YEAR 6
LEARNING
CELEBRATING
ADVENTURE
SUCCESS Academic Winners In Term 4 last year, two junior teams competed against schools from around the state in the da Vinci Decathlon—an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate young minds. The event was held at the University of Western Australia, where our Year 5 team won their division and our Year 6 team came in second place.
Leading Voice
Hear more about Savannah’s success via the MLC podcast. mlc.wa.edu.au/experience-mlc/girls-on-fire-the-podcast
Year 10 student Savannah Rogers was selected from more than 1000 applicants to take part in Australia’s most prestigious junior public-speaking competition, the United Nations Youth Voice National Finals. Savannah earned her place after winning the state finals of the event late last year. She said she was attracted to the competition because “it gives young people a say on topical world issues that we wouldn’t otherwise have”. Having twice reached the national finals (and coming in second place in 2018) in the junior division, Savannah placed in the top five in the senior division this year.
Third in the World
Year 6 student Hallie Richards recently placed third in the world in the Language Perfect Championships, helping the MLC team win the international competition for the second year running.
Hear Hallie and her Chinese Languages teacher, Mrs Bonnie Woo, discuss the importance of learning languages. mlc.wa.edu.au/experience-mlc/girls-on-fire-the-podcast
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PHYSICAL EDUCATION
HOUSE SPIRIT “The best aspect of the day is always the House spirit shown —the girls display that in spades.”
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PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The Years 7–12 House Swimming Carnival gives girls an opportunity to represent their House in a range of ways—from competing in races to joining in novelty events to getting dressed up on the sidelines. “It’s about sportsmanship, participation and the encouragement the kids show for one another,” said Mr Paul Birch, MLC’s Head of Health and Physical Education. The annual event is a vital part of MLC’s holistic education programme. “We cater for all ages and abilities,” Mr Birch said, noting that many students achieve personal bests in front of their peers. “The best aspect of the day is always the House spirit shown—the girls display that in spades. Everyone dresses up and cheers.” This year’s Spirit Cape, recognising the House with the most enthusiastic supporters, was awarded to Athens, while the overall competition was won by Rome.
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ARTISTIC PURSUITS
Barclay Showcase Our Years 3–6 girls impressed parents at this annual showcase of their visual and performing arts talents.
CREATED EXHIBITION Current Year 12 students Nancy Bian and Evelyn Carapetis showcased portraits in last year’s Created Exhibition, which featured Years 7–11 student works from the Creative Arts and Design and Technologies areas. 14 by Evelyn Carapetis Artwork
and, right, Nancy Bian.
ARTISTIC PURSUITS
Reach for Success At MLC, we are fortunate to offer Dance from Kindergarten through to Year 12. For many students, it opens up a whole new way of learning; one that’s about more than sitting down and absorbing information. Dance provides a chance to actually get up, move your body and use the other side of your brain. Dancers don’t speak, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have something to say—they just have an alternative way of expressing it. As dancers, we have a different way of looking at things. We see the world from every angle. In the senior years, girls are encouraged to create works that showcase intent, which may come through in a theme, story or idea they want to share with an audience. Alongside the curriculum, our Years 7–12 girls have a chance to audition for the IGSSA Dance Festival. MLC is quite unique in that we have student choreographers for this; the Year 11s choreograph the work, audition the girls and run rehearsals. It’s a great leadership opportunity for those girls. The MLC Dance Theatre (MLCDT) is our co-curricular programme, offering places, via audition, for Years 7–12 students. The girls in MLCDT are offered unique learning opportunities, such as through tours and workshops, and perform diverse, contemporary repertoire at a high level. Along with creativity, studying Dance develops each girl’s teamwork and problemsolving skills. You have to consider the capabilities of your peers. One person might be more flexible, another may be stronger or have better balance. It’s about observing and collaborating. We have to work together to create a piece of work that people understand and appreciate. Ms Jan Urbini DANCE COORDINATOR
“As dancers, we see the world from every angle.” 15
Year 12 ATAR Dance student Ruby Hart.
STAFF
“We need to ensure innovation, entrepreneurship and enterprise are highly featured in our offerings at MLC.”
PROFILE
LEADING
INNOVATION In early 2020, Mrs Meagan King joined the College as our inaugural Director of Innovation. Her appointment reflects MLC’s ongoing focus on contemporary learning, which supports our girls to succeed both at school—and in workplaces of the future— through building their curiosity, creativity, collaboration skills and resilience. Here, Mrs King discusses the unique, research-based learning opportunities being developed at MLC and how they are preparing our girls to thrive in a modern, digitally connected world. 16
STAFF PROFILE
Why is innovation so important for the College? Innovation is a crucial aspect of education. MLC is committed to future-proofing the offerings for girls at the College. This will ensure we are preparing MLC girls for jobs and careers of the future. We aim for MLC girls to be creative, to be excellent communicators and to be able to collaborate with empathy and emotional intelligence. The opportunities we provide at the College must include the integration of online learning into traditional methods. We need to ensure girls are inspired, empowered and engaged. To become digitally confident, girls move beyond just being digitally literate; we show them how they can be innovative, creative leaders. Innovation means we keep up to date with the latest industry developments and curriculum advancements. To innovate effectively, it is crucial that the pedagogy is real, relevant and relatable for our girls. To encourage our girls to think differently, we need to ensure innovation, entrepreneurship and enterprise are highly featured in what is on offer at the College. Curiosity and creativity take a front seat in the decisions made about programmes we will engage in. We strive to move beyond grades and instead encourage each girl to focus on growth. Teachers help the girls to experiment, explore and take risks. This is vital for the making of our global game-changers of the future.
What programmes are being developed? There are many programmes being reviewed at all times. A feature for 2020 will be the integration of online learning into our regular mode of lesson delivery. Virtual learning is an area we aim to continue exploring so our girls can experience the best of the Claremont ‘on campus’ experience as well as what is on offer beyond the gates of MLC. We are working with some innovation leaders on these projects. Term 2 will see our Year 10 girls experience an alternative work-experience programme, which will see them work in groups to digitally collaborate with business leaders in areas such as aviation, tech consulting, sustainable engineering, finance and the automation industries. They will solve a real-world business problem and present their ideas for feedback to industry leaders who will mentor them through this process. This year will also see us develop our Walton Leadership Institute to include an amazing range of opportunities for MLC girls. In Kindergarten–Year 6, we will be exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) learning and reviewing how the girls engage with and explore the real worlds of Science and Technology. Engaging in this level of innovative learning means that MLC girls can see themselves as problem solvers, as scientists, as inventors, as creators and as future leaders. This is what innovation at MLC is all about.
What attracted you to this role? There were many reasons why I was attracted to the role of Director of Innovation at MLC. The first of these was the vision of the College Council and Principal of MLC. I was very interested in working within a school that is committed to being an international leader of holistic teaching and learning. I have a strong background in curriculum development and I am passionate about this area of education. I was also attracted to working at a school where the values of integrity, mastery, enterprise and justice are held at the forefront of what happens. I very much believe in the importance of inspiring young women and I am an advocate for challenging and inspiring girls to become leaders and game-changers. While taking this role meant I would move my family across the Nullarbor, I believed in the vision of MLC, and this was coupled with my husband and I being very keen for our children to live in Perth and enjoy the amazing lifestyle it has to offer.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? I enjoy spending time with my family. We like walking on the beach and swimming (when the weather is warm), entertaining friends, reading and watching movies. I spend a lot of my time running around to sporting venues, as my children are very active. I love meeting new people and learning all about them. I love to travel and explore new places and I am keenly waiting for the opportunity to explore all that WA has to offer.
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LEADERSHIP
OUR 2020 PREFECTS on their goals this year
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LEADERSHIP
Grace Rohr Head Prefect
Jemima Crosby Sports
“My goal this year is to inspire others to embrace every aspect of our school by continuing to ‘Take a Leap’. I love to see others reach their full potential, and hope the girls are empowered by our theme to leap wholeheartedly into everything that comes their way; to be courageous, make themselves proud and bring our community even closer together.”
“My focus this year is to promote the integration of sport into our everyday lives. This can be achieved by either jumping into new and exciting sporting opportunities or coming up with innovative ways to stay fit and healthy.”
Georgina Manners Deputy Head Prefect “My goal is to set an example for other students, showing how when times get tough it is vital to remain optimistic by keeping a positive mindset. It is often the case that when situations derail, so do our goals, but I want to show that we must move forward and work even harder to achieve those goals.”
Ava Nielsen Academic “My goal is to encourage the girls to get involved in different academic activities. Often trying new things academically can be daunting, especially if there is the stigma of needing to feel ‘smart’ or being considered ‘nerdy’. But what I have discovered through my time at MLC, and what I really want all girls to experience, is the fun side of academics and the opportunities they can open up.”
Ashleigh Allan Arts “My goal is to create a fun, welcoming environment for all girls at MLC. I think it’s important to provide a welcoming space for new girls and those in the younger years. This way, girls feel more inclined to be brave and leap into something new.”
Lydia Dutton Arts “Who we are is how we lead. My goal is to continue to bring out the most courageous and compassionate version of myself and of others. By doing so, vulnerability is embraced; love, courage and kindness are chosen over self-protection … ‘Hearts open, hands washed, love on.’”
Anoushka John Boarding “I am hoping to inspire the boarders to make the most of every opportunity. I want them to truly feel like this is their home away from home. I want to encourage unity and a safe, loving and fun environment for the girls.”
Baci Alder Leadership “My goal is to promote the importance of leadership skills to all MLC girls. In Term 1 we worked on a school-wide project for International Women’s Day with the message: ‘Alone we are strong but together is when we make the most impact.’ We are hoping to continue this theme throughout the year.”
Jessica Afonso Service
Ebby Horler Sports “I aim to involve myself with all years across the College. I believe that by stepping outside of our comfort zones, together we can learn new things about ourselves and become even closer as a community.”
Alice Muir Student Representative Council “My goal is to create new opportunities that allow each girl to leap into her passion. I aspire to strengthen the forum for student voice, putting girls’ ideas into action. I want every MLC girl to know that they have a unique impact on the College, and the ability to create change.”
Madeleine English Athens “When I applied to be a Prefect, the aim was always to provide every girl with the same wonderful experience that I gained from MLC. This year’s theme, Take a Leap, was created with this aspiration in mind, too. To get all the girls to try out for every amazing opportunity that MLC offers.”
Ella Cull Corinth “My goal as the Corinth House Prefect is to inspire girls in my House and in the school to get involved in as much as they can, embodying the theme ‘Take a Leap’. I also really want to support a safe environment in our House, enabling girls to make friendships across the different years.”
Ella Adams Olympia “My goal as Olympia House Prefect in 2020 is to inspire and encourage all the girls to make the most of every opportunity they are given, whether that be in sports, music, arts or academics. I strive to encourage unity and a strong sense of House spirit and pride within Olympia, to provide a safe and supportive environment in which the girls can take a leap.”
Holly Hannington Rome “My most important goals are to make every girl feel included and to emphasise the importance of positivity within the College. I aim to complete this by embodying the Prefects’ Theme, ‘Take a Leap’. If the girls can see the Prefects taking leaps and showing it’s okay to make mistakes and not be perfect, this will hopefully inspire them to also take a leap.”
Abbie Neaves Sparta
“My goal is to encourage all of the girls to grasp every opportunity given to them, whether that be through sport, music, academics or leadership activities. I want to stress the importance of giving every opportunity a go and not taking life so seriously.”
“As a Sparta House Prefect, my biggest goal is to get everyone to show team spirit by encouraging others and making sure everyone has the confidence to leap into new experiences and activities. I want to inspire others to get out of their comfort zones and give everything a go, because you’ll never know you enjoy something unless you give it a try.”
Clare Cooke Service
Georgie Ferreira Troy
“This year I am embracing the ‘Take a Leap’ theme by becoming involved in any opportunity that presents itself to me, no matter how challenging it is. I hope that in doing this I can inspire girls in younger years to seize their own opportunities.”
“This year I aim to motivate and act as a role model for the younger girls through my enthusiasm, positivity and commitment to school. I want to inspire the girls of MLC to come together to create a warm and supportive community in which every girl has opportunities to grow.”
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LEADERSHIP
“Leap with your whole heart, give 100 per cent and make yourself proud. Be courageous.”
TAKE A LEAP Head Prefect Grace Rohr revealed the 2020 Prefects’ Theme at the whole-school Welcome Assembly in February.
As clichéd as it sounds, reflecting back on my years at MLC, my only regrets have been the opportunities I haven’t taken. The Prefects and I would love to encourage you to make the most of all the amazing opportunities we are given here—to be involved, meet new students, make new friends, learn new skills, create unforgettable memories and bring our MLC community even closer together. With 2020 being a leap year, we hope every single one of you will ‘leap’ into everything and anything that comes your way. And that is why, this year, our MLC Prefects’ Theme is to ‘Take a Leap’. Regardless of your ability, take that moment of “I wouldn’t get in” or “I’m not good enough” or “I don’t have the time” and change your mindset. Stop making excuses and take a leap. This could be a literal leap on stage at a dance festival, a leap into Chorale, a leap at
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a softball trial, a leap at a Maths competition or a leap of faith. Whatever it is you decide to leap into, leap with your whole heart, give 100 per cent and make yourself proud. Be courageous. When you leap, you take a risk—you may land it perfectly or fall in front of everyone, but what matters is that you gave it your all and will always learn from the experience. If you fall, we will all be here to help you back up. So, girls, whether you are in Year 2, 8 or beginning your final year at MLC in 2020, I ask one thing of you all: try something new. Join a music ensemble or simply open the door for a teacher for the first time. There is nothing more we would love to see than all of us, together, embracing every aspect of our MLC community. Take a leap. I promise you won’t regret it.
OUR BOARDING FAMILY Girls from the across the state and around the world have been at home in our Boarding House since 1907. Three of our current boarders share some of their favourite things about life at MLC.
BOARDING
“The opportunities we get at school and through boarding are really cool. I think sometimes we don’t realise how lucky we are.” Anoushka John Year 12 Boarding Prefect, Geraldton
“What makes me feel most at home at MLC is my sisters— the girls I live with … The House Mums are never too busy to come and talk to you.” Gemma Seymour (pictured centre) Year 9, Miling
Discover more about the MLC Boarding experience. mlc.wa.edu.au/experience-mlc/life-at-mlc
“Life as a boarder reveals ample opportunities to explore new challenges and grow independently with the support from my second family here at MLC.” Jennilee van Rooyen Year 10, Gelorup 21
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Image courtesy of Simon Bodycoat.
DIVE INTO OUR AQUATIC PRECINCT COMPLETED AT THE END OF 2019, OUR MARKET-LEADING AQUATIC PRECINCT IS THE RESULT OF A L ANDMARK COLL ABORATION BETWEEN MLC AND CHRIST CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL (CCGS). THIS JOINT VENTURE—MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT OF THE MLC COMMUNIT Y—ADDS GREATLY TO THE HOLISTIC EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS. “This is a place for our girls to learn, play, challenge themselves and enjoy the community spirit that defines MLC,” said Principal Dr Marie Perry, noting that our Sport, Physical Education and Wellbeing programmes will all benefit from the world-class facility. The development features an Olympic-sized heated pool for lessons, training and competitions, and a 40-by-25-metre heated pool that can function as a lap training pool, an Olympic-sized water polo court or two 20-by-25-metre water polo training courts. MLC’s Chair of Council, Mr Nick Henry, said it was inspiring to see how our community rallied around the project. “Students, staff, parents, Collegians and friends of the College have thrown themselves into our fundraising efforts,” he said. “We thank them all and would like to particularly acknowledge those major donors who have invested so generously in our vision, helping make it a reality for our students.”
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THE AQUATIC PRECINCT FEATURES
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
1 GEOTHERMAL HEATING SYSTEM HARNESSING NATURAL ENERGY FROM THE EARTH
2 OLYMPIC-SIZED POOLS, FOR SWIMMING AND FOR WATER POLO
2,000,000 LITRES OF WATER FILLING THE NEW 40-BY-25METRE POOL
“This is a place for our girls to learn, play, challenge themselves and enjoy the community spirit that defines MLC.” 23
Attuning to Your Daughter We know how important attachment is for the development of children and adolescents, as they aim to ultimately form ‘secure attachment’ in their connections to others. So how do we establish secure attachment? And what ‘ingredients’ are needed to keep this intact as your daughters grow and develop? An important part of building secure attachment is the process of emotional attunement. This can be seen in the relationship between a newborn and their carer/parent. The baby gives many cues—crying, smiling, cooing, squirming and so forth—to which the caregiver will respond, perhaps by rocking, feeding, swaddling, singing or cooing in return. The caregiver is attuning to the cues and needs of the infant, and, in turn, this reminds the baby that they are safe and can trust the adults in their world. However, this pathway of attunement does not stop at the end of early childhood, rather, it continues throughout your daughter’s life and forms the basis of her own attachment in future relationships.
P
1
PLAYFULNESS
While parents generally find it easier to engage in a playful manner with babies and young children, the essence of having fun with your child (not observing at a distance) tends to get lost as they grow older. Asking your daughter “Can I join in?” and engaging in things that interest her are great ways to attune to your child.
A
2
The PACE model, developed by Clinical Psychologist Dr Daniel Hughes, uses four concepts that parents can apply in their interactions with their children.
E
4
EMPATHY It’s often easy to default to the desire to ‘fix’ your daughter’s problems so she doesn’t have to experience negative feelings. However, the ability to be empathic and simply listen to how she feels is critical for attunement. As children move into adolescence, having empathy for their ‘big’ feelings (and there are lots of them, constantly, due to their brain development at this time) plays a significant role in helping to organise their emotional state. Think about when you are talking about a problem to a loved one—do you want them to fix it or hear you? Remind yourself of this the next time your adolescent daughter brings a social problem your way.
ACCEPTANCE Unconditional acceptance of your daughter’s interests, beliefs and personality is vital, particularly as your daughter matures and starts to ask herself the important question: who am I? And while it’s important to implement boundaries and consequences for misbehaviour, it’s equally important to understand why your daughter may misbehave. If we think of all behaviour as a form of communication, then you can consider what your child, through their conduct, is trying to tell you. Sometimes we think our children “just know” they are loved; but do they know they are loved no matter what they do?
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C
3
CURIOSITY
Much like playfulness, keeping an open mind and being prepared to be influenced by your child helps us to stay in touch with our own curiosity. The art of wondering aloud—asking your child, “Can you tell me about that?”—helps them to make sense of our world. By showing genuine interest in the things that enthral them, you will help your child to learn and thrive.
Emotional attunement draws upon all of our senses in how we react and respond to others, and in how we resonate with and interpret them. “Feeling felt” is something we all desire, and this not only plays a part in a child’s attachment to their caregiver but also more broadly in how they feel connected to the world and form relationships with others as they move into adulthood. Annmarie Decotter MLC CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
FOUNDATION
A Message from the Chair of Foundation We’ve seen the profound impact of COVID-19 on our MLC community as it quickly shifted our daily activities and outlook. This is not the first time that MLC has experienced a pandemic—we also endured the Spanish flu in 1919. At the time, the College continued to raise funds to support the Returned Servicemen’s Association. In 2020, the Foundation has continued to fundraise; however, we also recognise that it has been essential to modify our regular programme. We have postponed the MLC Foundation Gala to provide the greatest hope for achieving the desired aspirations for the event. The Gala will now be held on Saturday 15 May 2021 at the Ritz-Carlton; I look forward to celebrating MLC with you all and to further growing our culture of philanthropy. The MLC Tuition-Fee Raffle was again well supported. All profits will go towards infrastructure improvements and scholarships to further enhance the exceptional educational opportunities offered by the College. David and Donna Berg were the lucky winners of the 2020 Term 1 raffle, receiving a prize of $9,484 in credit to their daughter’s tuition-fee account (an amount equivalent to one third of the Year 12 fee for a locally enrolled student). The Foundation has contributed $860,588, including $300,000 from our corpus, to the Aquatic Precinct project—a significant combined achievement. Capital projects, such as the Aquatic Precinct, can only be
realised through the collaborative investment of our community. There were a number of families who were influential in their giving, which enabled the Aquatic Precinct project to come to fruition. I thank all of our donors for their confidence and generosity, and express my sincere appreciation to them on behalf of the Foundation, the College and our students. It is incredibly satisfying to lead a Foundation in which we see the benefits of monies raised being enjoyed by our MLC girls, knowing that they will continue to gain from these projects for years to come. Of course, our students also played a special role in our fundraising campaign via the Splash or Dash event, held last year. Their contribution will add greatly to their appreciation of the completed project. Importantly, we hope the experience will also inspire them to pursue philanthropy in the future. It is this shared sense of social responsibility that we seek to ignite in our girls, as it represents the very heart of MLC. James McClements CHAIR OF FOUNDATION
2019 The Impact of Your Giving
ACHIEVED BY THE MLC FOUNDATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY
31
%
INCREASE
55
MEMBERS IN THE CIRCLE OF SUCCESS
IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DONORS FROM 2018
1,113
TICKETS SOLD IN THE TUITION-FEE RAFFLES
$1,137,590 TOTAL
$88,879 DONATED TO SCHOLARSHIPS
DONATED
TO MLC
$862,000
DONATED TO THE OPERATIONAL MLC/CCGS AQUATIC PRECINCT
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FOUNDATION
RECOGNISING OUR 2019 DONORS The Foundation gratefully acknowledges and offers thanks to our donors for their generous support in 2019. Every donation makes a difference, helping us support a diverse student community and exceptional experiences for our students.
FOUNDATION PATRONS Mr D Bovell The Brasington family Dr B and Mrs L Carnley Mr C and Dr L Colvin Hon R Court and Mrs J Court Ms K Gunn and Mr W Bradford Ms J Hill and Mrs A Wood Mr M and Mrs J Hills Dr C Jones and Mr D Whittle Peter and Ary Johnson and family Mrs E and Mr J Klepec Mr P and Mrs K Kopejtka Ms V Leigh Mr B and Mrs G Lisle Mr H Loton Luan and Yoong Foundation The McClements Foundation Mr M and Mrs T McCusker The Parents of MLC The Rae and Peter Gunn Family Foundation Dr B Rasmussen Ms E Richards Salim Nominees Pty Ltd The Seed family Mr D Snellgrove and Ms T Trevisan Mr R and Mrs K Staniforth Mrs M and Mr R Teo Mr A and Mrs L van Merwyk The Ward family
Mr K and Mrs V Flynn Hardie Foundation Pty Ltd Mr K Haynes and Ms N Gallin Mr N and Mrs J Henry Mr S Herczykowski and Ms R Cody Dr D Hua Mr J and Mrs R Humphris Ms K and Mr R Kirschner Mr T Lagdon Dr D Latchem and Ms N Sabatini
Mr J and Mrs G McMath Mr B and Mrs L McVeigh Mr P and Mrs L Major Mr Q and Mrs A Megson Mr G Morgan and Ms I Koornstra Dr P and Dr E Moore Dr F and Mrs T Nielsen The O’Sullivan family Mr N and Mrs J Potier Mr G and Mrs R Pritchard Mr D and Ms F Rakich Mrs E Riley Mr G and Mrs L Robinson Mr P and Mrs M Saunders Mr D and Mrs L Selman Mr J and Mrs L Stati
Mr J Afiat and Mrs I Djajasepytra
Mrs J and Mr V Wheatley
Mr A and Mrs G Canci Professor J Carapetis and Professor S Skull
The MLC Collegians’ Association Yalari Friends of Music The MLC Rowing Club Parents of MLC
A Collaborative Gift to MLC
Mr P and Mrs E Ma
Mr J and Mrs L Visagie
Mr H and Mrs T Brown
Shell Australia Pty Ltd
Mr T and Mrs O Lisle
FOUNDATION PARTNERS
Mr R and Mrs S Bentley
SAS Resources Fund
2019 CIRCLE OF SUCCESS
The Thomas family
Mr B and Mrs K Beament
Australian Sports Foundation
Dr J Lewis and Dr S Cherian
Mr P and Mrs R Watson
Mr G and Mrs S Bamford
PARTNERS
The Timms family The Watson family Mr C and Mrs C Wilkinson We acknowledge our Foundation Patrons and Partners who wish to remain anonymous.
DONORS
Mr J and Mrs G Adamson Mr L Anastasas and Ms E Athanasiou Mr G and Mrs S Bamford Mr R and Mrs S Bentley Mr W Bradford and Ms K Gunn Mr H and Mrs T Brown Professor J Carapetis and Professor S Skull Mr M and Mrs G Cardaci Mr C Daoud and Ms E Ong Mr R and Mrs R Davies Mr N Dillon and Dr E Mengler Dr S and Mrs G Dore Mr K Haynes and Ms N Gallin Mr N and Mrs J Henry Mr G and Mrs N Kerr Mr I Kirkham and Dr J Spencer Mr J and Mrs E Klepec Mr P and Mrs K Kopejtka Dr H and Mrs A Kurokawa Dr D Latchem and Ms N Sabatini Mr J Lefroy and Mrs N Fini-Lefroy Ms V Leigh Dr J Lewis and Dr S Cherian Mr B and Mrs G Lisle Mr T and Mrs O Lisle Mr P Lorbeer and Ms S Mason Mr P and Mrs L Major Mrs M McClements
Mr M and Mrs G Cardaci
Dr R and Mrs D Bowyer
Mr M and Mrs Y McKenna
Mrs L Court
Mr K and Mrs D Mony de Kerloy
Mr Q and Mrs A Megson
Dr L and Mrs P Crostella
Mrs C O’Donnell
Mr M Nguyen and Mrs D Tran
Dr G Dogra and Dr C Viiala
Mrs J Twine
Mr P and Mrs B Naughton The Parents of MLC
Mr A Dunn and Ms C Allen Mrs S El-Fil and Dr D Forte
We acknowledge our many generous
Dr A Patrikeos and Dr C Harrison
Mr M Fisher and Ms H Ecker
donors who wish to remain anonymous.
Mr J and Mrs J Pentony
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FOUNDATION
Mr R and Mrs L Piggott
T and M Cooney
Miss L and Miss M Murphy
Mr J and Mrs R Potalivo
The Cooper family
Dr M Nguyen and Mrs D Tran
Dr M and Mrs S Prentice
The Crostella family
The O’Sullivan family
Dr B Rasmussen
Ms E Culley
Miss S and Miss I Panzich
Mr W and Mrs V Robinson
Miss E Davies
Parents of MLC
Mr A and Mrs C Rossiter
Mr S and Mrs K Dobney
Mr T and Mrs A Pascall
Mr G Sakarapani and Ms S Lee
Mr S Eley and Ms B Murray
Mr J and Mrs J Pentony
Mr W and Mrs A Salfinger
Jason and Jo Flowerdew
Dr M Perry
Mr D and Mrs L Selman
Miss S Gerrard
Dr P Porter and Dr T Ng
Mr T Shivakumar and Ms T Jeyamohan
Mr R and Mrs C Gray
The Prentice family
Mrs C Simpson
Mr A and Mrs A Gribble
Miss L Quinlivan
Ms D Smith-Gander
Rae and Peter Gunn family
The Rasmussen family
Mr L and Mrs J Sprengel
Foundation Pty Ltd
Ms E Richards
Mr J and Mrs L Stati
Mr T and Mrs S Halls
Miss C and Miss A Robinson
Mr R and Mrs M Teo
Hardie Foundation Pty Ltd
Mr A and Mrs C Rossiter
Mr G and Mrs S van Niekerk
Mr C Harding and Mrs
Mr W and Mrs A Salfinger
Mr T and Mrs C Ward
M Thompson
Dr J and Dr S Salter
Mr A Wood and Ms J Hill
Mr K Haynes and Ms N Gallin
The Selman family
Mr J and Mrs A Woodward
The Henry family
Miss E Simpson
Dr G Hogan and Dr K Ingram
Mr I and Mrs D Singleton
Mr M and Mrs K Jones
Mr J and Mrs L Stati
Dr C and Mrs V Kennedy
Dr P Stobie and Mrs K Lane
Mr I Kirkham and Dr J Spencer
Dr P and Mrs H Tan
Ms K and Mr R Kirschner
Mr R and Mrs M Teo
Mr J and Mrs E Klepec
Dr C Viiala and Dr G Dogra
IN THE VISION TO CREATE
Paul and Karen Kopejtka
Miss S Vo
A MULTIPURPOSE AQUATIC
The Kotula family
Miss Z and Miss H Ward
Mr T Lagdon
Mr V and Mrs J Wheatley
Dr S Lamb and Dr M Hodge
Mr M Williamson and
Dr A Abraham and Dr S Samida
The Langmead family
Ms C Oakes
Dr M and Mrs A Allan
Dr D Latchem and Ms N Sabatini
Mr D Zhen and Ms M Zhang
Mr L Anastasas and Ms E
Mr P and Mrs K Law
Athanasiou
Ms V Leigh
We note the support of
Mr B and Mrs K Beament
Drs J Lewis and S Cherian
those donors who wish to
Mr R and Mrs S Bentley
Mrs G and Mr B Lisle
remain anonymous.
The Best family
Mr T and Mrs O Lisle
Mr A and Mrs A Bewsher
The Litton family
Mr W Bradford and Ms K Gunn
Mr P Lorbeer and Ms S Mason
WE THANK THE MLC
Mr H and Mrs T Brown
McClements Foundation
STUDENTS AND
Mr A and Mrs G Canci
Mr M and Mrs T McCusker
Mr M and Mrs G Cardaci
Mr M and Mrs Y McKenna
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Mr K Chan and Ms R Beh
Andree McIntyre and
Mr T Chong and Ms L Ang
Quentin Megson
Miss A Choong
Miss J Crosby
TO CREATE A WORLD-
Mr PH Chow and Ms HB Lim
2018 Year 4
CLASS AQUATIC
Methodist Ladies’ College
Parent-Daughter Camp
Collegians Inc.
Mr G Morgan and Ms I Koornstra
FACILITY THAT WILL
Mr P and Dr A Connaughton
Dr D Morgan and Dr Y Tan
Miss G Cook
Mrs T Joll
FUTURE GENERATIONS
Dr P Cooke and Mrs M Connolly
The Muir family
OF MLC GIRLS.
THE MLC FOUNDATION THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE GENEROSITY OF OUR MAJOR DONORS, WHO SHARED
PRECINCT.
WHOSE PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT HAS HELPED
BENEFIT CURRENT AND
We endeavour to ensure the accuracy of this listing. Please contact the MLC Foundation office on 9383 8859 to advise of any errors or omissions.
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FOUNDATION
Aquatic Precinct Blessing The world-class MLC/Christ Church Grammar School (CCGS) Aquatic Precinct was blessed at an official ceremony in November. The Principals and Council members of both schools came together with major donors and staff connected to the project. MLC’s Reverend Hollis Wilson and CCGS’s Father Frank Sheehan completed the blessing ceremony.
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FOUNDATION
INNOVATION STUDIO Thanks to the generosity of our 2019 Circle of Success members, MLC’s new Innovation Studio was completed at the start of the year. The modern teaching space—designed to create differentiated teaching and learning zones—features collaboration booths, a range of digital screens and a huge whiteboard wall that supports interactive lessons. “It’s reimagining what a classroom can be,” said MLC’s Head of Research and Learning Innovation, Mr Stephen Dornan. “The space has opened up teachers and students to a new way of thinking about education—this isn’t a one-size-fitsall approach. There are multiple ways of learning.” So far, the facility has provided a space for innovative classes across diverse learning areas including Science, Languages, Technology and Dance. Students have also embraced it. “They flock to it when it’s not being used for classes—they love to write all over the walls and work in small groups there,” Mr Dornan said.
To discover more about our Circle of Success programme and how it has benefited our students, visit the ‘Philanthropy’ section of mlc.wa.edu.au.
form, is important. Each of us will do this in our own way, but what is important is that we do reach out to members of our community, and I use the term collectively and as expansively as possible, to keep the lines of communication open. If there is a positive in any of this, it is how responsive humanity is to change. Priorities can be reordered, and what matters most at this time is family and community. As I said to Rev. Hollis when he kindly reached out, for me it has been about remembering a simpler way of life with far less busyness. That has meant playing more with the children, embracing backyard sports and crafts, and remembering family as opposed to just existing as a family.
Parents of MLC President’s Message As I write this article, we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this new world of social distancing and possible isolation, providing comfort, albeit in a different
Let us also remember to share information respectfully and be mindful of the reach of social media. Informed and progressive decision-making and opinion sharing are not necessarily the same thing. Both will influence how we think and feel about our day-to-day decisions, including as parents. While we have had to pause and postpone many of Parents of MLC activities for now, I encourage all of our community members to reach out and keep in touch with each other during this time. Stay safe, take care and we will get through this. Tania Jeyamohan PRESIDENT, PARENTS OF MLC
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PARENTS OF MLC
Movie on the Green Many of our families attended the wonderful Movie on the Green event, presented by Parents of MLC in November last year. More than 300 guests enjoyed a family picnic, African drumming lessons and a screening of Disney’s recently released The Lion King.
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PARENTS OF MLC
“We value our strong partnerships with parents. By working together, we enable every girl to thrive.”
Sunset on the Green Parents and staff connected at this special annual event, held in February. There was a fantastic atmosphere on the Great Court, with our Jazz Orchestra delivering an outstanding performance. “At MLC, we value our strong partnerships with parents,” said Dr Perry. “By working together, we enable every girl to thrive.”
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PER ARDUA
Per Ardua President’s Message It was with pleasure that we looked forward to our November Christmas Luncheon and the insights of our guest speaker and Head of Languages Department, Mrs Jane Massey. MLC is one of only four schools in WA to offer four different languages (currently Chinese, French, German and Japanese). Languages are seen as a skill enhancer across every sector and domain. In 2019, 665 MLC students from Pre-Primary to Year 9 studied a language. Some career opportunities open to students who study a language include working as a Project Design Manager with Audi or as a Games Translator with Nintendo. A fitting finale for Jane’s talk was an invitation by our Year 9 students (delivered in French, German and Japanese) to join the Kindergarten–Year 6 Chinese students on the Great Court for their delightful scarf and umbrella dances. We thank Jane for a wonderful presentation and congratulate the Languages students involved.
Hear our Year 12 Languages students discuss their experience in Germany as part of an elite exchange programme. mlc.wa.edu.au/experience-mlc/girls-on-fire-the-podcast
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While prevailing circumstances prevented us from hosting our March Welcome Afternoon at the new Aquatic Precinct, we remain committed to resuming our programme just as soon as it is practical and safe to do so. The Per Ardua Association was established 45 years ago on July 17 1975, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with you when activities resume at the College. If you would like to receive invitations to our events, please contact mlccommunity@mlc.wa.edu.au. Lynne Hughes PRESIDENT
COMMUNIT Y
FAITHFUL PORTRAYAL MLC Archivist and awardwinning artist Ms Michelle Campbell recently turned her attention, and paintbrushes, to one of the best-known figures around the College, Reverend Hollis Wilson. “I’ve known Hollis for a long time, but then some time ago I saw him at a College Sunday event at MLC; he came out wearing his robe and this brilliant gold and white stole,” she said. “It was just an image that stuck with me. I thought, I have to paint that.” The result is a two-metre-high portrait, designed to reflect Reverend Wilson’s larger-than-life disposition. “He has a very strong presence—he’s a natural storyteller and a natural narrator,” Michelle said. “That’s what I really wanted to capture.” Called Purple for Lent, the painting was completed around Easter this year and captures Reverend Wilson in his favourite stole for the season. It took about four days to complete. Ms Campbell will enter the work into this year’s Lester Prize for portraiture, for which she has previously been a finalist.
Hear about Reverend Wilson’s fascinating career—which once saw him work as a NASA engineer—and unique perspective on the connection between faith and young people. mlc.wa.edu.au/experience-mlc/girls-on-fire-the-podcast 33
COLLEGIANS
Collegians’ Association President’s Message The Collegians’ Association is the link between present and future MLC women. Throughout its 107 years, the Association has looked to the future, ensuring that every new cohort of students feels part of its history and is supported to stay connected to the College and its students long after graduation. The Association has a new Constitution, which underpins all that we do, and our focus this year is to work with the College to increase the awareness of our Association’s purpose and objectives. The Collegians’ Association has more than 7,500
The Collegians’ Association awards a $3,000 prize
members, with a large number of our Collegians
annually to a Year 11 student who is the descendant
currently living interstate and overseas. At the end
of an MLC Collegian. The girls who apply must submit
of 2019 we reintroduced our chapter reunions to
a written application and undertake an interview with a
reconnect members living outside of WA. A Melbourne
panel of judges. The winner of the prize is determined
reunion was held in August 2019 and the Sydney
by the student’s academic application and her active
reunion was held in February 2020. Plans are already
participation at both the College and in her local
well underway for chapter reunions to be held in London and Singapore in 2021. Please keep an eye on our MLC
community. I would like to congratulate this year’s recipient, Eloise Miller. Eloise’s mother is Elizabeth
Claremont Collegians’ Facebook page for more details.
Thomas (1989).
Along with organising and hosting alumnae events, the
I would like to sincerely thank all of our members
Collegians’ Association, and the generations of women it represents, are present and visible throughout the College. MLC girls needn’t look far to feel the presence of Collegians who have gone before them and want to encourage them to make the most of their time at the College. The Collegians’ Association has supported many MLC projects over the years including the building of the Gertrude Walton Centre and Hadley Hall. The latest contributions from the Collegians’ Association to the College were $5,000 towards the
who give their time and skills to contribute to a cohesive committee that effectively supports the MLC community and the objects and purposes of the Collegians’ Association Constitution. I would also like to acknowledge the many Collegian volunteers who have generously supported our events and activities. I warmly invite all ideas and feedback on how we can better support our alumnae community in the future, and I look forward to strengthening our diverse community of MLC Collegians in 2020.
Great Court’s audio system and $5,000 towards the
Meg Dyson (née Toop, 1987)
new Aquatic Precinct.
COLLEGIANS’ ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
COLLEGIANS’ ASSOCATION MEETING DATES FOR 2020 Tuesday 28 July
Tuesday 22 September
Annual General Meeting
Monday 17 August
Monday 19 October
Tuesday 17 November Centenary Boardroom at MLC 6.30pm
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ALUMNI
COLLEGIANS
NEWS
ISABEL PHILIP 2014
Isabel was recently awarded this year’s Ciara Glennon Memorial Law Scholarship at The University of Western Australia. “A huge part of my desire to do law is rooted in the role of advocacy and justice and how important it is to give everyone a voice,” Isabel said. The second-year Law student also works as a volunteer paralegal at the Aboriginal Legal Service and as a volunteer with Cahoots, which coordinates programmes for people with disabilities. “This scholarship will allow me to focus on the areas that mean the most to me, such as volunteering, without having to sacrifice my commitment to my studies,” Isabel said.
THE HARRIS SISTERS
Hear the Harris sisters reflect on their time at MLC. mlc.wa.edu.au/experience-mlc/girls-on-fire-the-podcast
In season one of our MLC podcast, the four Harris sisters—Pamela (1960), Patricia (1960), Joan (1957) and Janice (1952)—reflected on life as MLC boarders in the 1950s. Tune into the episode to hear about their most memorable experiences, from undertaking swimming lessons in the river to making their dresses for the Year 12 Ball.
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COLLEGIANS
JACQUELINE SHEARN 2019 Our 2019 Sparta House Prefect elected to take a gap-year programme with the Australian Air Force. In April, she became an aircraftswoman after completing 11 weeks of recruit training. “So far I have built on my leadership skills and learnt how followership is just as important, as it means the team will be able to work more effectively and efficiently,” she said. “The friends I have met here and the memories I have made will always be a huge part of my life. Overall, I feel as though I have become a lot more confident in the way I lead and I believe I have found my passion working for the Air Force. ”
CHARLOTTE WOODHILL 1994
ZOE FLOOD 1999
After graduating from the University of Western Australia in 2000 with a degree in Political Science and Asian Studies, Charlotte spent the next 10 years working as an analyst for the Australian Department of Defence. She went onto hold positions with the United Nations in Kenya and New York. “I worked to enable UN programmes and activities during a time when terrorism, drought and tribal conflicts, among other issues, challenged this wonderful region,” she said of her time in Kenya. Most recently, Charlotte became the UNICEF Regional Security Advisor for South Asia, based in Nepal. She is married with two children.
Collegian Zoe Flood is an independent journalist and filmmaker. She recently visited MLC to speak with our senior Media students about her experiences as a journalist and documentary filmmaker. After studying History and Politics at Oxford University, Zoe went on to work and live in Nairobi, reporting on conflict and post-conflict situations for international media outlets.
Tune into our podcast to hear Zoe’s story. mlc.wa.edu.au/experience-mlc/girls-onfire-the-podcast
TRIBUTES
ANNA THOMAS 1987 Anna will be remembered as one of Australia’s most successful fashion designers. After winning the prestigious International Wool Secretariat Young Designer of the Year award, she worked as a designer for Country Road before landing her dream job as the Design Director for luxury fashion house Max Mara in Italy. In 2003 she started her own label and now has nine exclusive Anna Thomas boutiques across Australia. Anna passed away at home surrounded by her family and friends, who will always remember her as being kind, humble, gracious, witty, inspiring and 36 brave enough to follow her dreams.
ROS MACKINLAY 1966 As the University of Western Australia’s first female engineering graduate, Roslyn MacKinlay (née Clarke) was a trailblazer in her field. Ros graduated from university with an Honours Degree in Civil/Structural Engineering, having completed the four-year course in 1970. She was employed in the resources sector for 30 years as an independent contracts engineer, and later worked on major projects including the Mount Henry Bridge and the Canning Highway bus bridge (part of the Perth-toMandurah rail project in 2005). Ros is survived by her two sons, Daniel and Andrew, and her partner, Alec Holm.
1930 s
ARCHIVES
Founded alongside the beautiful Swan River in 1907, MLC has always had a strong connection to the water. In the early days, each school year commenced with an ‘aquatic term’ of activities such as lifesaving lessons, swimming and water sports. In the 1930s—some 90 years before our new, market-leading MLC/CCGS Aquatic Precinct opened— students enjoyed playing on the swing at the nearby Cottesloe Beach.
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OPEN DAY 19 AUGUST
MLC.WA.EDU.AU
19 AUGUST MLC.WA.EDU.AU
