News
Artistry in Time An Old Girl returns to inspire the students to artistic heights. The work of artist Judith Torzillo typifies MLC School’s Powerful Learning philosophy and its encouragement of innovation at the margins where fields of thought intersect. Ms Torzillo was an MLC School top achiever in 2009 with an ATAR of 99.9. Her current focus is an exploration of micro and macro perspectives on time through her creations as an artist in jewellery. ‘I don’t see a separation between science and art – they are on a continuum,’ she says. ‘I continue to consider myself a pretty academic person. Making real material objects and art works is a way to explore my own thinking and to express ideas I am grappling with academically’.
Ms Torzillo was guest speaker at the MLC School Art Illuminates Lecture Series on 3 December 2015 where she shared examples of her award winning interactive works that have been exhibited in numerous Sydney galleries. One of her most significant pieces is a 2014 installation called ‘Our time is Made of Particles: Uncertain and Entangled’ that consists of 178 unique and numbered brass discs suspended in a plane that represent the behavior of quantum particles as expressed by quantum particle theory. ‘When you enter the room you see the twinkling of light but as your eyes adjust to the dark you can make out that all these objects are spinning and that they are symmetrical; similar but unique’.
The next chapter for Ms Torzillo lies overseas. She plans to take up residence in Germany or the Netherlands and make as many art-world connections as she can along with launching an online publication about art and artistic spaces, www.aroundarticle.com. ‘The art world is a difficult industry to succeed in,’ she says. ‘It can be tough to stay positive. MLC School held me to a high standard and taught me to try my hardest and to be an all-rounder which has given me the confidence to take on such a multi-faceted field’.
Parent Participation Our new P&F President aims to shape an inclusive P&F where every parent feels welcome to play a role in the life of the School. ‘The P&F is our voice,’ says Lyn McNally who assumed the role of President at the beginning of Term 4. ‘When I first became involved I was surprised and impressed by the great work the team was doing. I put my hand up for the role of P&F Community Relations Co-ordinator and enjoyed it so much that when I was approached for the President’s role, I thought, ‘Why not?’’ Lyn McNally had originally intended to enrol her daughter Georgie at her own alma mater but on touring MLC School with a friend, was won over by the diverse student population and the range of co-curricular activities, service learning programs, overseas exchanges and study
tour opportunities as well as the School’s outstanding academic results. Since then she has become a strong advocate and is excited to be following on the work of outgoing President, Anna Pyrgiotis and Vice President Kyranne Thomas. She cites the significant contribution made by the P&F over the years including the STEAM labs both in the Junior and Senior schools, the automatic blinds and sound system added to Daphne Line Hall, and the air conditioning provided in Potts Hall and the Drama Theatre. Research into the factors affecting student progress in school consistently shows that parent involvement is a major predictor of a child’s success.
2016 P&F Committee
Judith Torzillo Ms McNally hopes that in her year as President more parents will participate in the P&F, not just because of the impact on their daughters’ development, but for the opportunity to meet other parents and have fun. She particularly stresses the value of the Parent Forums initiated by the P&F, which provide learning opportunities and the chance to participate more fully in the life of the School. ‘2016 will be an exciting year. It is the School’s 130th anniversary and we have lots of special celebrations planned in addition to the regular events such as the golf day, the sports day, the year group functions and the Parent Forums. I hope lots of parents will join in’.
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