A Connected Community

American author Coretta Scott King once said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” Here at Mentone Girls’ Grammar, our community is connected by a strong sense of belonging, meaning and purpose, which in turn, bring hope. It is hope that sews the seeds for growth towards a common goal—in our case, to build upon providing an education that inspires a sense of purpose in our students and empowers confident, compassionate, and capable young women who are prepared for the future, whatever it brings.

The Parents’ Association is a pivotal part of our community by being the voice of all our parents and guardians who entrust our exemplary educators with their daughters. It has been another wonderful year of initiatives led by the Parents’ Association including the beloved Father’s Day Campout and Father’s Day AFL-themed Junior School and ELC Breakfast, Big Art, Trivia Night, Mango Drive and much more.

There was a lot of love and joy felt at this year’s AFL themed ELC and Junior School Father’s Day Breakfast. Guest speaker and AFLW player Erin McKinnon graced the Assembly where students hosted a Q&A for the Saints star. Dads enjoyed games, performances and activities across the morning and engaged with their daughters’ learning in the classroom. Red The Bear also made an appearance, much to the delight of our littlest learners.

The Father’s Day Campout was a roaring success with students and fathers wishing it had been a longer adventure. Families brought their caravans and tents to Warburton, where they indulged in pizza and roasted marshmallows over the campfire. They enjoyed a hike along the river and finished the night by watching a movie under the stars.

One of the most festive events on the School calendar is Big Art, where all year levels including ELC join together in celebration of the performing and visual arts. Students performed music, sang songs, graced the acting arena and exhibited their best illustrations. The last two years saw Big Art switch to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year was a joyous occasion of togetherness and artistic expression, which were sorely missed over our time in isolation.

Head of Creative Arts, Mr Tony Toppi said, “It was a joy to see new art works on display, hear live music, experience drama in the Willow Courtyard and enjoy dumplings and a snag!”

The Rock ‘n’ Roll themed Trivia Night was a highlight, with parents dressing up and tables battling it out for the win. A live auction, spot prizes and raffles all added to the fun!

The Mango Drive was fruitful event as families rallied to get their hands on the freshest mangoes harvested from Northern Queensland. With 125 registrations across our School community, the initiative was a great success.

The Parents’ Association is the cornerstone of our School community. We wish to thank Will Donovan and Kath Shield who have contributed their time and efforts over the years as Co-Presidents. Both Kath and Will have stepped down from their roles this year, and we thank them sincerely for all their work.

2023 will see a change of leadership, and we look forward to soon announcing the new Parents’ Association Presidents, who will make their own mark on our beloved School.