INFORMATION EXCHANGE SUMMER 2016 THE COLLABORATION EDITION CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL In her bestselling book It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us (1996), Hillary Clinton focuses on the impact individuals and groups outside the family have, for better or worse, on a child’s wellbeing, and advocates for a society which meets all of a child’s needs. She argues that to build an inclusive society, the community needs to have a shared responsibility in influencing and supporting the next generation. It is heartening indeed that someone who The day created a wonderful buzz as we skills to achieve excellent academic scores was almost occupied one of the most powerful reflected on where the school was 20 years ago, only one part of the equation and that extra- offices in the world has such a collaborative what we have achieved to date, and what we curricular activities are equally important in philosophy to what constitutes a good society. wish for the next 20 years of the school. I was ensuring optimal wellbeing and development The broader Melbourne Girls Grammar amazed but not surprised by the exceptional of good judgement. community has always had a collaborative talent present in support of the School’s We look forward to reaching out to the approach to supporting the success of the vision and ambitions. The excitement for our greater MGGS community in the coming School and ensuring that the impact of a innovative education agenda was palpable, and months as we continue to ensure we maximise girl’s education continues long after she has I was touched by the widespread sentiment the skills and goodwill that our parents, left. Building on this collective approach, that MGGS continues to create grounded teachers and students (past and present) the Council and I were delighted to welcome women who roll up their sleeves to “make a provide to the School. This diverse and representatives of all elements of the MGGS difference”. collaborative network remains the lifeblood of community to our recent Annual Strategic We were delighted that Professor John the School community and I thank you all for Retreat. Along with Catherine Misson and Daley, Executive Director of the Grattan your ongoing support. her Executives, participants included the sub- Institute (an independent think-tank) provided Professor Katie Allen (Stephens, 1983) committees of Council (Finance, Property, a thought-provoking keynote address. John Chairman of Council Audit and Risk and Endowment), as well as discussed the emerging environment of Presidents of the Old Grammarians Society educational accountability and why it is (Judy Wilkinson), Parents Association (Lisa important we continue to demonstrate that Beaumont) and Merton Hall Foundation what we do really does work. As a group we (Michael Clough). reflected that providing our students with the 2 Chairman of Council 18 Breakfasts with INFORMATION EXCHANGE Community Champions Editorial Co-ordinator: Melissa Hosikian 3 From the Principal Community Office 19 Inauguration of the Email: [email protected] 4 Blooming Brilliant 2017 Student Executive Council Published by: Melbourne Girls Grammar 6 Early Learning 86 Anderson Street, South Yarra 3141 20 Art Exhibition Victoria, Australia CONTENTS 8 Morris Hall History 21 Centre for Educational Enterprise For the latest Melbourne Girls Grammar news, please visit: www.mggs.vic.edu.au 10 Junior Years 22 Parents Association 12 Middle Years 24 Philanthropy 14 Senior Years 32 Old Grammarians Society 16 Boarding 2 MGGS INFORMATION EXCHANGE SUMMER 2016 FROM THE PRINCIPAL Collaboration could be a buzz word that makes our eyes glaze over, and produces a cursory nod of agreement that “of course we know we should collaborate.” It’s a bit like the over-use of leadership, consultation, and team work in the Harvard Business Review every edition: we get it, but we just do not believe it is truly happening as regularly or as spectacularly as the authors wish us to believe. Collaboration as a goal is a very real focus the success of their students. What she had understanding that everyone plays a part, and for our community of students and staff. In experienced from colleagues was symptomatic only together can we succeed. 2010, entering into a period of reform, we of this reality. As we look to 2017 and the implementation committed to team work as the foundation of In 2015, our Staff Engagement Survey of our reformed Senior Years Program, the all we would aim to achieve, believing that the threw up an astonishing piece of data. The ongoing improvement to all our learning sum of all of us would ensure a stronger, more Organizational Psychologist responsible for programs, and the realisation of our Artemis resilient response to the challenges that would the MGGS Report sat down with me and Project, I am immensely grateful and celebrate emerge. said that she had rarely seen such data, and the teams that have made this possible. At the True collaboration requires humility, especially did not expect it in a school context. heart of our team work is the shared purpose open mindedness, compassion, and a unified Our teachers reported 99% discretionary to create student-centred learning experiences purpose. Human beings are not wired from effort when asked to rate their commitment on that emphatically empower our girls to birth to collaborate – we are actually driven that particular question. What this represented be confident, flourishing citizens in their to survive “at all costs”, even if that means was a culture of collaboration, deeply felt contemporary world of work, relationships, “me over you”. It takes the experience of love and acted upon by our staff. For me, this data and community interactions. to transform that individuality from a solo reflected the sustained commitment we have And we will not leave anyone behind – mission into a shared experience that means to building team culture at MGGS and the neither teachers nor students, because in our much more than “me”. That love starts first remarkable application of our teachers to collaborative community all of us matter, all of in the family context and then broadens create a shared purpose that overlays subjects us are part of the success we aspire to, and all through the community life of a child. At and faculties and academic results. of us are contributors to the greater experience MGGS, we provide nurturing and values I am very aware every day that I am of MGGS. based environments that provoke our girls to working alongside teachers who believe in the Catherine Misson see beyond their own self, to value the efforts vision we have forged for our students and are Principal and aspirations that contribute to a greater putting themselves wholly into building this, purpose. If I had to frame this more simply, I would say that we are nurturing good citizens, young women capable of excellent judgment, able to focus on the future rather than myopically trapped in self service. Ella Furphy, Year 12, is the At a Women in Leadership Conference recipient of the Principal’s recently, I was asked why I thought teachers Art Acquisition Award experience road blocks to their professional for 2016. advancement from colleagues more regularly Her painting Alysia, will hang in my office for 2017 than any cultural stymying of women as an acquired piece for the taking up executive roles. My response was School’s Art Collection. unexpected but I hope taken on board by my I was drawn to the content fellow principals in the room. The majority of Ella’s painting, the of teachers in schools fly solo: they have their beautiful use of colour, and the expertise with own students, their own classes, their own which Ella executed her classrooms. Many teachers still rarely see their painting. colleagues teach. So, in fact, schools have not been places in which teachers can naturally collaborate for a unified purpose beyond FRONT COVER Ephemera Undone MGGS INFORMATION EXCHANGE SUMMER 2016 3 Blooming BRILLIANT EPHEMERA UNDONE The flowers are blooming at Melbourne Girls Grammar. Have you seen them? Nestled in the corner of the Nina Crone Library there is a work of art depicting a stylised forest, with flowers that reach to the ceiling, open and close mechatronically, and change colour depending on the light. Titled Ephemera Undone, the new installation is a blend of engineering, fantasy and colour; giving students new insights into science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) subjects. It was created by an enthusiastic team of educators from Victoria University’s College of Science and Engineering who adopted the creative moniker Skunk Control for their artistic endeavours. The group’s aim is to communicate art through science, and vice versa. Through their installations – which are hand-built in an engineering lab over many months – this collective communicates and explores the “intersection of art and science” that prompt investigation and engage feelings of excitement through the process of discovery. This is their first permanent installation. Catherine Misson appointed Skunk Control to produce the creative expression of art and science after seeing the ingenuity and playfulness of the group’s work locally, including Melbourne’s Gertrude Street Projection Festival. At the unveiling Catherine stated, “Ephemera Undone achieves not only a beautiful symbiotic expression of art and science, but it provides our community with a sensory and cognitive experience. It is one that will be appreciated and will no doubt become an innovative thread in the learning fabric of Melbourne Girls Grammar.” “Not only is [Ephemera Undone] a celebration and showcase of Melbourne-based talent, it will be a constant visual reminder of the potential we have within us.” 4 MGGS INFORMATION EXCHANGE SUMMER 2016 Inaugural Director of STEM At Melbourne Girls Grammar, our vision is focused on the future and we continue to redesign the experience of schooling for our girls today in order to prepare them for success in a constantly evolving and increasingly complex world.