Stage 3 or not Stage 3: that is the question
The report in the West Australian Newspaper on Wednesday 8 February entitled “Failing our kids: High School Students not ready for university” offered me the opportunity to reflect on how MLC prepares our girls to make the best possible choices for their future. The article outlined the concern expressed at a recent meeting of Western Australian University leaders that “WA’s senior school system is not working because too many Year 12s are doing courses that fail to prepare them for tertiary study”. A specific concern of the academics was that students were completing Stage 1 courses in Year 12, when they were academically able and capable of completing a more difficult course. I am happy to advise that this is not the case at MLC.
Assisting our girls to select the course that will enable them to meet their goals and will offer them the best chance of success is a key focus for our Senior Years’ teaching and counselling staff. We aim to assist students as they “strive to make the most of their individual gifts” by encouraging them to make appropriate and rigorous course selections. This can be clearly seen in the breakdown of course selections made by the Year 12s of 2012. Of the 148 students, 2% selected a stage 1 unit, 7% are undertaking stage 2 units and 91% are engaged in stage 3 units. This compares very favourably with the statistics cited in the article, which suggested that in 2011 – just half (50%) of all units completed were at stage 3, only 14 % were at stage 2 and 36 % were at stage 1.
At MLC we encourage all our students to maximise their potential; to aim for the heights in their academic studies but to bear in mind that every individual’s career development pathway needs to be tailored to them and their personal developmental process.
A key factor in helping our students make good choices is the communication between teachers and counsellors, which identifies students’ strengths, helps them to find their “passion” and to design a pathway that will assist them in getting to where they want to go. Our counsellors encourage all students to choose courses that will give them the maximum chance of entry into their preferred course as well as enabling them to achieve WACE graduation. Studies suggest that the best preparation for University studies is to complete as many Stage 3 courses as possible and for students to choose the most challenging courses, where they will be capable of achieving sound results.
The Ball
The first major student social event for 2012, the Ball which was held on Friday 10 February at Challenge Stadium, lived up to the high expectations of the 2012 Leavers. It was a beautiful evening and the Year 12s carried themselves with style and grace. They managed the formalities of the event with aplomb and had a terrific time. A social event of this complexity would not be such a success without the work of many and I thank Dee Haughton and the Year 12 Tutors particularly for their efforts, in addition to teachers, who gave of their time to attend the evening or just be there to welcome the girls.
Year 12 Information Night
I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with parents at the first of the Senior Years’ Information Nights. The information provided by our guest speaker from TISC will be very useful to the current group as they consider their Year 13 destinations. The presentations by Mr Bruce Wilkins (Academic Dean K to 12) and our Head of Year 12, Ms Dee Haughton, provided a good overview of key events and some sound advice for Year 12s and their parents.
Interhouse Swimming Carnival and House Singing, Drama and Mime rehearsals
The House Spirit shown at the Interhouse Swimming Carnival was commendable and already suggests that there will be fierce competition this year for the Spirit Cape! It was pleasing to see so many of the Senior Years’ girls competing, in all manner of events, as each supported their own House Executive. I am looking forward to great things at the House Singing, Dama and Mime Day and Evening.
Auditions for House Play began in Week 3 and Year 10s have enjoyed their first opportunity to try out for a chance to “strut the boards “for their House. Rehearsals for House Choirs and Plays begin in Week 4 with House Singing, Drama and Mime Day taking place on Tuesday 3 April. May the best House win!
Year 11 River Cruise
Year 11 students are eagerly anticipating their River Cruise, which will be held on Friday 24 February. This promises to be a beautiful evening on the river that the girls will greatly enjoy. Parents are reminded that their daughters will need to be at Pier 3, Barrack Street Jetty, before 7.00pm to avoid missing the boat! The cruise will return at 10.30pm.
Senior Years Information Evenings are held in Hadley Hall and begin at 7.00 pm; light refreshments will be available in the Hadley Foyer from 6.30pm:
Year 11 Tuesday 21 February 7.00pm start
In addition to specific curriculum information provided by Mr Bruce Wilkins (Academic Dean K to 12) and guest speaker from Curtin University, our Head of Year 11, Ms Suzy Bayne, will flag key events for Year 11s.
Year 10 Monday 20 February 7.00pm start
In addition to specific curriculum information provided by Mr Bruce Wilkins (Academic Dean K to 12) and guest speaker from Murdoch University, our Head of Year 10, Ms Lucy Brookes-Kenworthy, will flag key events for Year 10s and offer some ideas to assist with the transition into Senior Years.
College Photos Day and Year 12 Hat Photo – Reminder
Friday 24 February is College Photo Day involving all Year 10 to 12 students. Students in Years 10 and 11 will need to be in full summer uniform on this day. Year 12s will wear the Year 12 uniform – green skirt and white shirt. The girls will also be required to bring in their summer uniform for the Hat Photo.
On this day the traditional Year 12 Hat Photo will also be taken. To take part in this photograph girls will need to wear their summer dress and must bring their hats. Hats should be clearly named to ensure that they are returned to the correct owner after the photograph is taken.
Head Lice Alert
We have been recently informed about head lice in Year 10 and advise that ALL parents from across the years check their daughter’s hair thoroughly.
A child with head lice should be excluded from school until treatment has commenced and all head lice have been removed. However, a few remaining eggs are not a reason for continued exclusion, as long as treatment continues until all eggs and hatchlings have been removed, this usually is over a period of about ten days.
The WA Department of Health has an excellent fact sheet on head lice and the best methods of treating them which is available at www.health.wa.gov.au or click here for a copy.
