December 2012 Print Post Approved PP 337 877 000B Approved Print Post well RED Mentone Girls’ Grammar School Magazine Hear from our Principal, Mrs Fran Reddan about... Great Expectations AND... Scan me! Contents Message from The Principal Message from The Principal 1 Through a generous grant from the Invergowrie Foundation, Expectations with impact we are developing our Future Global Leaders Award for Council News 2 ‘Great Expectations AND...’ has been our theme this year, but students. As part of this project, we had our first staff delegation to our new sister school, Huaxia Girls’ School, in Student Leadership 3 what does it mean? School, and life involve learning to set, adjust, meet, and even exceed expectations. We all have expectations Beijing, one of only seven girls’ schools in China. Staff gave Starring Roles 4 – 5 of each other and of ourselves that give us something to aspire demonstration lessons, and held professional discussions about to and so much more. This is where the AND comes in… girls’ education, global leadership and curriculum collaboration. STEMtastic! 6 – 9 it reminds us that we fulfil expectations so that we can have We are delighted to announce a new exchange program with students from Huaxia, beginning next year. Remarkable Women – Keren McFie 9 a positive impact on the people and world around us. As a school, our great expectations and the desire to have Technology has continued to be a major accelerator in our Industry Engagement 10 – 11 a positive impact on young people, have encouraged us international connections, our curriculum innovations and our more interactive communications with our community. We Curriculum Creativity 12 – 13 to engage in new strategic planning while achieving some significant milestones from our current plan. There is always continue to be acknowledged as a reference school for many The Power of Teamwork 14 – 15 more to do, but with a very supportive School Council, a of our initiatives, with staff presenting at national technology committed team of staff and a positive school community, conferences and the School featured in educational journals. Foundation 16 – 17 we have achieved so much together over the past 12 months. These highlights are just a glimpse of the many amazing things we An International Perspective 18 – 21 With our strategic priority of creativity, we opened our new achieve together as a community, and the ever increasing quality Year 7 & 8 Creative Learning Centre. With flexible indoor/ and scale of our programs. As you read this edition of well RED, Fever Pitch 22 – 23 outdoor spaces, and the technology infrastructure to support I hope you will feel inspired, encouraged and excited, as I do, for the future of our School. These pages will show that we have a Time to Think 24 – 25 a creative curriculum using iPads, we have provided leading- edge learning initiatives for that age group. To extend these remarkable school community where our students and staff set, Remarkable Women – Erin Johanson 25 successful learning concepts, we are currently redeveloping our meet and, indeed, exceed expectations – this will surely have a Year 9 & 10 Learning Centre, together with a contemporary positive impact on the people and world around us, and inspire Tall Poppies 26 – 27 Food & Nutrition Centre. This project will complete our many more ‘Great Expectations’ for 2013 and beyond. Parents’ Association 28 – 29 strategic intent to provide outstanding ‘every day’ classrooms Mrs Fran Reddan for every girl from ELC to Year 12. Principal Old Girls’ Club 30 – 32 Creativity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Remarkable Women – Lisa Xu 33 (STEM) has thrived, with new programs in Year 5 and beyond. In Mathematics, our students have tracked the transit of Venus, a once-in-a lifetime opportunity; built constructions using cans of food; and enjoyed meeting strong role models for young women in Science through such events as our annual Science Breakfast. FRONT COVER 1946 MEETS 2012... WAVES of Success 2011 The creative arts themselves have blossomed. We took a Year 10 student, Katia Rapota, very enterprising and creative step to commission a play taking some time out during and witnessed the wonder of our Senior School Production, rehearsals of the School When the Stars Go Blue. We’ve introduced innovative Production of When the Stars mentorship programs, the revival of our orchestra, the go Blue to take a few happy We were, once again, delighted to see our availability of lessons in new instruments such as the harp, snaps with her mobile phone. Mentone Girls feature among the best students in and had record numbers of students taking additional lessons. Victoria. The quality results from the VCE Class To the delight of audiences, the standard of our Art, Music and Drama is continuously being raised. of 2011 are a reflection of the hard work put in by students, their teachers and parents over We have reached more strategic milestones in the vital area of internationalism. From life-changing opportunities for students Mentone Girls' Grammar School many years. We are particularly delighted to see through exchanges and study tours, to engagement with local is an official International that most of our students achieved or surpassed Baccalaureate (IB) World School young refugee women, we have broadened our students’ authorised to teach the inquiry- their personal expectations which are not always perspectives. Thanks to external philanthropic support, we based learning method of the reflected in an ATAR score. have also been able to invest in scholarships to promote social inclusion at our School, embracing diversity and opportunity. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to IB Primary Years Program (PYP). Mr David Stewart, our Chair of Council, who has helped Highlights from the Class of 2011 are: Through our impressive work as an IB Primary Years Program to shape the great expectations we have for our School. World School, visits from educational leaders from Asia, and He will be stepping down from Council at the end of this year # 100% of our students attained their VCE our designation as an ‘Access Asia’ school by the Department after almost eight years of service and having seen his three # Dux for 2011 achieved an ATAR of 99.20 of Education, the reputation of our Mentone Girls’ Grammar daughters through our School. David has been a great mentor education has grown internationally. for me. Together, we navigated some difficult waters, and for CONTRIBUTIONS to well RED # 27% of the class achieved ATARs of 95+ We successfully implemented Japanese from Prep to Year our wonderful School by the bay, he has been the lighthouse, The editor welcomes contributions from the Mentone Girls’ # 34% of the class achieved ATARs of 90+ 6, complementing our pathway to Year 12. We have also challenging us, guiding us and illuminating our vision. We have Grammar School community. Please send articles via email been fortunate to have his expertise and wisdom and I am to [email protected] and ensure that # 64% of the class achieved ATARs of 80+ introduced Mandarin Chinese as a language option in Year 7 next year, and have developed a new course in Global thrilled that he will be the Chair of the Council’s Nominations any photographs are sent at the resolution of 300dpi. We will # endeavour to include information provided to us in the next 80% of the class achieved ATARs of 70+ Studies in Year 8 to give greater flexibility to our language Committee next year. We congratulate Mr Dale Seymour edition of well RED, however we do not guarantee publication. offerings and provide more opportunities for learning about who will be our new President of Council from 2013. contemporary Asia. 1 Council News Student Leadership Great Expectations We have used three critical value disciplines to guide our thinking: A Second Home are seen as individuals, and allowed to thrive as individuals. When 1. To be bold. I reflect back on Year 12, I only have positive memories. The AND… Strategic 2. To act and behave as a market leader. It sounds clichéd, but this school really is my second home, enjoyment of the many events we participate in really stems from 3. To engage with our community(s) locally and internationally. something I am proud to admit. It is the experiences and the nature of the girls and the phenomenal support they have for one another, and their genuine desire for others to succeed. Planning We have also developed a strategic plan framework upon which opportunities this school has provided me that have enabled me to populate our thoughts and discussions under three key pillars to achieve in all aspects of my school life and shape who I am. The support from Xafina, Bianca and indeed all the girls in Developing a strategic plan which which are linked to our School Vision and Mission statements: The uniqueness of our School comes down to the relationships our year level has been extraordinary and something that I pursues educational leadership is a between both students and teachers alike. It is how comfortable 1. Enrolments and growth. have sincerely valued and will miss. It is the hallmark of a great bold task! It has to move beyond every girl feels here and the genuine compassion we have for one 2. An excellent WAVES learning experience. school when one can reflect on their time with such fondness. platitudes. It has to build on what another. We truly become part of each other’s extended family. This school has empowered me as a woman, helped me to 3. A great acknowledged reputation. has been put in place, and leverage In addition, the personal interactions and constant support we recognise my strengths and to achieve academically, but more the achievements of the School The process commenced in January 2012 with a two day have from our teachers, mean they all leave an indelible mark.