14 the Star
AWARD FOR NICHOLAS LEARNING CENTRE
MLC
In late 2020, the new Nicholas Learning Centre was the Winner of the Best Education Facility in Victoria awarded by the Association for Learning Environments. Opened in 2019 for our Year 7 and 8 students, this building was the first project emerging from the 2015 College Masterplan – a vision for the 10-year development of the Kew campus. The building includes 24 configurable state-of-the-art learning spaces, plus outdoor learning and recreational areas. Feedback from our students has been the essential proof of success; however, we are proud to receive external recognition that the learning centre provides exceptional learning spaces to ensure our students have the tools and facilities for dynamic 21st century learning.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE GLOBAL COMMITTEE
HEAD OF THE SCHOOLGIRLS ROWING
The Global Committee is a student-run organisation with support from the International Student Coordinator. Open to students at all year levels, the Global Committee embraces diversity and promotes cultural awareness through activities such as food days (crepes, dumplings, challah bread etc) and arts and crafts days (origami, calligraphy, mask painting etc). We provide a platform for students to share stories and to delve deeper into a variety of cultures and traditions.
After the interruptions of 2020, it was with great relief and celebration that this year’s regatta could go ahead in mid-March. Held on the Barwon River in Geelong, it is the largest single-sex schools’ regatta in the Southern Hemisphere and is considered the pinnacle event of the schools’ rowing season.
We organised College-wide festivities for Lunar New Year with lion dance performances, poster competitions, making paper lanterns and guessing riddles from different languages in Term 1. There are plenty of opportunities for members to promote their own initiatives and ideas within the committee, where students can just come along, meet new people and enjoy a fantastic lunch! Isabella Zheng, International Relations Prefect
MLC has always had a strong presence, this year with 22 crews competing from Years 9 -12. Of these crews, an outstanding 17 made the A final (top 4), and 11 crews made the podium with five gold medals, three silver and three bronze. Following on their success, our 1st VIII and U17 VIII crews represented MLC at the National Rowing Championships in Tasmania, both winning bronze. “The students’ achievements were particularly significant considering the limited training they were able to do through lockdowns,” says Tim Dolphin, MLC Rowing Program Manager.
