Issue 1

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2020

Bold Changes for Trying Times

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Welcome

Introduction

This issue of Information Exchange was produced in a very special time of our shared history. While the COVID-19 pandemic spread, we came together as a community. In these pages we take you on a journey of discovery. We reveal how the foundations of our learning could be leveraged during a period of remote learning and physical distancing and our relationships and connections strengthened. Through other health pandemics and crises, Melbourne Girls Grammar has never stopped prioritising the education of our Grammarians, and this time was no exception. Unprecedented times call for innovative measures. That is why this issue of Information Exchange is 100% digital. This has enabled us to truly show the incredible ways the entire community embraced technology to remain socially connected and continue their work and education remotely. As a community we have embraced the change and found innovative and creative ways to connect and to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of curriculum. We should all be very proud of how we’ve navigated these trying times and look toward the future, taking what we’ve learnt from our isolation into our everyday lives to grow from the experience and reflect on it.

Principals Address

From the Principal

As an experienced educator and Principal, I have worked closely with teachers over many years. My regular contact with teachers, visiting their classrooms and engaging in daily conversations around their teaching and their students’ learning gives me insights into their day-to-day practice. When ...

Dr Toni E. Meath — Principal

Written By Dr Toni E. Meath — Principal

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Principals Address

From the Principal

As an experienced educator and Principal, I have worked closely with teachers over many years. My regular contact with teachers, visiting their classrooms and engaging in daily conversations around their teaching and their students’ learning gives me insights into their day-to-day practice. When ...

Written by Dr Toni E. Meath — Principal

Dr Toni E. Meath — Principal

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Council Address

From the Chair

This year, the world, our community and each of us personally, has been put to a test in a way in which few could have expected or possibly imagined. The impact of COVID-19 across society and its impact globally is still unknown. For each of us it has presented both a challenge and an opportunity...

Mark Burgess — Chair of Council

Written By Mark Burgess — Chair of Council

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Council Address

From the Chair

This year, the world, our community and each of us personally, has been put to a test in a way in which few could have expected or possibly imagined. The impact of COVID-19 across society and its impact globally is still unknown. For each of us it has presented both a challenge and an opportunity...

Written by Mark Burgess — Chair of Council

Mark Burgess — Chair of Council

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Adapting to Change

Our youngest Grammarians come to Melbourne Girls Grammar curious about the world, and eager to make connections. In the Barbara Tolson Early Learning Centre (ELC), our 3 and 4 Year Olds develop skills for life, while teaching the rest of us a thing or two about staying inquisitive and being open...

Early Learning Team — Barbara Tolson Centre

Written By Early Learning Team — Barbara Tolson Centre

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Adapting to Change

Our youngest Grammarians come to Melbourne Girls Grammar curious about the world, and eager to make connections. In the Barbara Tolson Early Learning Centre (ELC), our 3 and 4 Year Olds develop skills for life, while teaching the rest of us a thing or two about staying inquisitive and being open...

Written by Early Learning Team — Barbara Tolson Centre

Early Learning Team — Barbara Tolson Centre

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Balanced Learnings

We already knew how agile our Junior Years students were, but when we moved rapidly to remote learning, they accepted the challenge and quickly adapted. With technologies to learn and a new routine to follow, we have all been so impressed with the way our Prep to Year 4s have embraced guided...

Kellie Morgan — Executive Director, Early Learning and Junior Years

Written By Kellie Morgan — Executive Director, Early Learning and Junior Years

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Balanced Learnings

We already knew how agile our Junior Years students were, but when we moved rapidly to remote learning, they accepted the challenge and quickly adapted. With technologies to learn and a new routine to follow, we have all been so impressed with the way our Prep to Year 4s have embraced guided...

Written by Kellie Morgan — Executive Director, Early Learning and Junior Years

Kellie Morgan — Executive Director, Early Learning and Junior Years

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Stepping Up

Each transitional phase of education sees students utilising more of the skills that are embedded in the Melbourne Girls Grammar curriculum.By the Middle Years, students become more independent; they manage their tasks, deadlines and schedules with minimal supervision. Remote learning became the...

Sally Hill — Executive Director, Middle Years

Written By Sally Hill — Executive Director, Middle Years

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Stepping Up

Each transitional phase of education sees students utilising more of the skills that are embedded in the Melbourne Girls Grammar curriculum.By the Middle Years, students become more independent; they manage their tasks, deadlines and schedules with minimal supervision. Remote learning became the...

Written by Sally Hill — Executive Director, Middle Years

Sally Hill — Executive Director, Middle Years

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Read this article

Leading from Afar

Helena was handed the reigns as the 2020 School Captain at the end of 2019 and, along with the rest of us, she did not predict that a few months later she would need to translate all her leadership skills into a digital realm. This period of isolation has made Helena look closely at what being a ...

Helena Wong Hansen — 2020 School Captain

Written By Helena Wong Hansen — 2020 School Captain

& Luke Francis — Executive Director, Senior Years

Luke Francis — Executive Director, Senior Years

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Leading from Afar

Helena was handed the reigns as the 2020 School Captain at the end of 2019 and, along with the rest of us, she did not predict that a few months later she would need to translate all her leadership skills into a digital realm. This period of isolation has made Helena look closely at what being a ...

Written by Helena Wong Hansen — 2020 School Captain

Helena Wong Hansen — 2020 School Captain

& Luke Francis — Executive Director, Senior Years

Luke Francis — Executive Director, Senior Years

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Read this article

Heading Home

Melbourne Girls Grammar has always been proud to provide a home away from home in our Boarding House, where rural, regional and international students feel comfortable and live within a supportive community. Just as our boarders were settling into boarding life for 2020, they were all sent home...

Amanda Haggie — Director of Boarding

Written By Amanda Haggie — Director of Boarding

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Heading Home

Melbourne Girls Grammar has always been proud to provide a home away from home in our Boarding House, where rural, regional and international students feel comfortable and live within a supportive community. Just as our boarders were settling into boarding life for 2020, they were all sent home...

Written by Amanda Haggie — Director of Boarding

Amanda Haggie — Director of Boarding

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Read this article

Creativity and Connections

On Friday 13 March 2020, our rowing and swimming seasons were cut short due to the rapidly changing situation surrounding COVID-19. Beyond our red brick walls, the Australian Grand Prix was cancelled and sporting events throughout Victoria and across the country were postponed as a matter of ...

Sally Bailey — Executive Director, Artemis Programs

Written By Sally Bailey — Executive Director, Artemis Programs

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Creativity and Connections

On Friday 13 March 2020, our rowing and swimming seasons were cut short due to the rapidly changing situation surrounding COVID-19. Beyond our red brick walls, the Australian Grand Prix was cancelled and sporting events throughout Victoria and across the country were postponed as a matter of ...

Written by Sally Bailey — Executive Director, Artemis Programs

Sally Bailey — Executive Director, Artemis Programs

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Read this article

Always Learning

Alex St Vincent Welch, Music Teacher at Morris Hall, was one of the first recipients of the Professional Learning Fellowship Award last year. The Fellowship funded his attendance at the Cuskelly School of Music Summer School in January. There he was able to expand his knowledge of teaching, and...

Sam Emms — Marketing Coordinator

Written By Sam Emms — Marketing Coordinator

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Always Learning

Alex St Vincent Welch, Music Teacher at Morris Hall, was one of the first recipients of the Professional Learning Fellowship Award last year. The Fellowship funded his attendance at the Cuskelly School of Music Summer School in January. There he was able to expand his knowledge of teaching, and...

Written by Sam Emms — Marketing Coordinator

Sam Emms — Marketing Coordinator

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Read this article

More Time Together

As a community, we pride ourselves on our connectedness and resilience. We all work towards the common goal of preparing our daughters for an indeterminate future, shaping them to be adaptable, resourceful, resilient and self-aware. As parents, we embody the School values and model these to our...

Tammy Read — President, Parents Association

Written By Tammy Read — President, Parents Association

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More Time Together

As a community, we pride ourselves on our connectedness and resilience. We all work towards the common goal of preparing our daughters for an indeterminate future, shaping them to be adaptable, resourceful, resilient and self-aware. As parents, we embody the School values and model these to our...

Written by Tammy Read — President, Parents Association

Tammy Read — President, Parents Association

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Read this article

Old Grammarians

From the President

As remote learning unfolded, we watched with admiration the leadership of our Principal, Dr Toni Meath, and her Executive Team as they steered the School through new and challenging territory. From the Barbara Tolson Early Learning Centre to Year 12, classes were swiftly moved online. We saw...

Trudie Horsfall (1976) — President, Old Grammarians Society

Written By Trudie Horsfall (1976) — President, Old Grammarians Society

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Old Grammarians

From the President

As remote learning unfolded, we watched with admiration the leadership of our Principal, Dr Toni Meath, and her Executive Team as they steered the School through new and challenging territory. From the Barbara Tolson Early Learning Centre to Year 12, classes were swiftly moved online. We saw...

Written by Trudie Horsfall (1976) — President, Old Grammarians Society

Trudie Horsfall (1976) — President, Old Grammarians Society

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Read this article

Celebrations and Announcements

Births, Deaths and Marriages

The feeling of community is one that stays with our Grammarians from the moment they enter the School on their first day, until long after they leave. Sharing your news of new life and new chapters through Information Exchange (IE) helps us stay connected as a community and provides us with the ...

Alumnae Team — Marketing and Community Engagement

Written By Alumnae Team — Marketing and Community Engagement

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Celebrations and Announcements

Births, Deaths and Marriages

The feeling of community is one that stays with our Grammarians from the moment they enter the School on their first day, until long after they leave. Sharing your news of new life and new chapters through Information Exchange (IE) helps us stay connected as a community and provides us with the ...

Written by Alumnae Team — Marketing and Community Engagement

Alumnae Team — Marketing and Community Engagement

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Read this article

Resilience in our History

In times that test us, we learn what’s important, what’s worth returning to, and what we can live without. The importance of taking what we’ve learnt into our everyday lives is crucial in order to grow from the experience and reflect on it. Every crisis seems like an unprecedented change when ...

Pip O'Connor — Multimedia Historian

Written By Pip O'Connor — Multimedia Historian

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Read this article

Resilience in our History

In times that test us, we learn what’s important, what’s worth returning to, and what we can live without. The importance of taking what we’ve learnt into our everyday lives is crucial in order to grow from the experience and reflect on it. Every crisis seems like an unprecedented change when ...

Written by Pip O'Connor — Multimedia Historian

Pip O'Connor — Multimedia Historian

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Read this article

About our Publication

Acknowledgement of Country

Issue 1

-

2020

Bold Changes for Trying Times

Welcome

Introduction

This issue of Information Exchange was produced in a very special time of our shared history. While the COVID-19 pandemic spread, we came together as a community. In these pages we take you on a journey of discovery. We reveal how the foundations of our learning could be leveraged during a period of remote learning and physical distancing and our relationships and connections strengthened. Through other health pandemics and crises, Melbourne Girls Grammar has never stopped prioritising the education of our Grammarians, and this time was no exception. Unprecedented times call for innovative measures. That is why this issue of Information Exchange is 100% digital. This has enabled us to truly show the incredible ways the entire community embraced technology to remain socially connected and continue their work and education remotely. As a community we have embraced the change and found innovative and creative ways to connect and to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of curriculum. We should all be very proud of how we’ve navigated these trying times and look toward the future, taking what we’ve learnt from our isolation into our everyday lives to grow from the experience and reflect on it.

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