Melbourne Girls' College

Melbourne Girls' College (MGC) is an all girls Department of Education and Training (DET) public school^[2] located in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond alongside the Yarra Boulevard. It has one campus on the banks of the Yarra River which is for girls from year 7 to 12, (11/12 VCE/VCE VET) and has an enrolment of 1323 (2014)^[1] with a division between the middle and senior school. Currently, girls from 212 Melbourne postcodes, in Melbourne and in country Victoria, along with girls from overseas countries, make up the student population. Sixty countries of birth are represented at the school.

MGC maintains and upholds that the girls turn into exceptional young women leading and achieving - as the motto goes once they graduate in year 12, as they are known for their renown excellence in VCE, and is in the top 100 schools within Victoria. The school holds Valedictory Dinners for the graduating classes each year and Presentation Nights for the entire school to attend, also providing a year 9 and 10 social with their brother school and a year 11 and 12 formal.

History

Melbourne Girls' College was established in January 1994 with an enrolment of approximately 300 students. The site on which the College stands was initially Richmond High School, which was closed in 1992 by the Kennett government.

Although the College was established as an entirely new entity with its own unique identity and mission, many of the founding staff and initial intake of students came from three other schools which had ceased to exist. These were Richmond Girls' High School, Malvern Girls' High School and Richmond Secondary College.

The Foundation Principal was Cavell Zangalis, the Principal from Richmond Girls' High School, who created the school from the empty shell that once was Richmond Secondary School. From 1995, Jan Parkes led (as principal) the newly formed Melbourne Girls’ College for over seven years, developing it into an innovative educational college. In 2002, a newer principal, Judy Crowe, introduced a new curriculum structure and several new facilities development. The current principal, Karen Money, joined the college in 2015. The school also has two current assistant principals; Linda Brown and Kay Clarke.

House system

All students are allocated a House when they first enrol at the College. The four houses are named after prominent Australian women; Chisholm (green), Melba (blue), Lyons (white), and Maris (purple). Chisholm, named after Caroline Chisholm; Melba, named after Dame Nellie Melba; Maris, named after Hyllus Maris; and Lyons, named after Dame Enid Lyons.

Purple represents dignity

Green the environment and personal growth

White, independence and purpose

Navy represents the pursuit of excellence

The combination of green, white and purple were the colours of the Women's Social and Political Union in the UK. Additionally, the blue represents the Yarra river which is adjacent to the school grounds.

Uniform

Melbourne Girls' College maintains a strict uniform policy. All students are required to wear a uniform from Year 7 throughout to Year 12, at all times of the year (with the exception of school organised events such as Casual Clothes Day and Year 12 jumpers.)

There are three uniforms: summer, winter and sports, all of which generally consist of two colours, navy and white. The summer uniform is worn throughout terms 1 and 4 and the winter uniform in terms 2 and 3 (Victorian School Terms). There is generally a two-week transition period between wearing the separate uniforms. The sports uniform is only to be worn on days where the students have P.E. and other sporting events.

The summer school uniform is a chequered blue and white dress with a white collar. The blazer (navy with crest) must be worn during formal assemblies, or at all times while travelling to and from school in the summer and winter months. Students must wear white knee high socks however socks are permitted to be worn down low. The straw school hat must be worn in terms 1&4.

The winter uniform consists of a white blouse, a navy skirt, navy tights, a blue and white striped tie. Additional items including the navy blue knit jumper (pullover) or the navy blue vest (pullover) may also be worn.

Acceptance

Entry to Melbourne Girls' College is competitive; to be accepted to Year 7, students must live in the local school zone or a sibling needs to be currently enrolled. Melbourne Girls' College also accepts a number of students who do not meet these criteria, which is determined through a written test which focuses on leadership skills.

Leadership

The school has 2 student leadership executives; Middle School Executive and Senior School Executive which are chaired by the Year 12 College Captains. The executives are made up of the leaders of the clubs in the school and together they organise many in school and outside of school events with teachers and peers within other clubs of the school. There are many clubs within the school, notably;

• Environment Club
• Philanthropy Team
• Sports
• Maths Club
• Science Clubs
• Rowing Club
• Aerobics Club
• Humanities
• Performing Arts
• Australian Air Force Cadets
• as well as many more that students create themselves.

With guided help of the correct staff, the captains ensure the clubs are maintained correctly in a fair manner.

Extracurricular Activities

Melbourne Girls' College offers a range of co-curricular opportunities to meet a wide range of interests including Public Speaking and Debating, Drama, Music, Outdoor Education, Sport, AAFC, Environment club, Philanthropy, Overseas Student Exchange and Overseas Tours. An Australian Air Force Cadet program has allowed students opportunities for powered flying and gliding, as well as marching in the ANZAC day parade.

Languages

The school is prestigious and selective of its students and ensures that the curriculum and teachers are maintained as role models and support when needed. MGC offers French and Chinese as a LOTE subject from year 8 to VCE years if chosen, with opportunities for overseas exchange and language trips available to girls. The Chinese Program at MGC has an affiliation with the Hanban Program by the Chinese Government and The University of Melbourne. This provide students with opportunities to be immersed in Chinese Culture, with tickets to Chinese events to Scholarships to study Chinese at the prestigious Nanjing University beyond school. All subjects at Melbourne Girls' ensures variety and offers other pathways such as VCE VET.

Sports

MGC holds the annual Swimming Sports Carnival and Athletics Carnival, which is a fun filled day for the competitive and the non-competitive students with events catering for all abilities, to compete for the House Swimming or Athletics Cup. The MGC School team members for Athletics and Swimming is also chosen during these carnivals who go to represent the school at District, Zonal, Regional and State meets conducted by Schools Sports Victoria. Other MGC Sports teams at 'A' grade (competitive) and 'B' grade (non-competitive/social) include Cross Country, Tennis, Rugby, Badminton, Football, Hockey, Volleyball, Ping Pong, Netball, Softball, Cricket, Soccer and Basketball. These teams compete in intra and inter school sports at meets such as District, Zonal, Regional and State. While MGC is very competitive, they also encourages students to try sports and have fun regardless of ability as a way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The school also has a successful program with many high-level Victorian gymnastics programs, which has seen many MGC alumni travelling to the Olympics to compete in Gymnastics. Additionally, the school sends a team of students and teachers to take part in the Great Victorian Bike Ride.

MGC Students Rowing On The Yarra

Rowing

Melbourne Girls' College boasts one of the largest and most successful rowing programs in Victoria, with girls competing in many competitions including the Head of Schoolgirls Regatta and the Australian Rowing Championships. MGC offers rowing to all students from year 8 to year 12 and training occurs outside of the normal school hours. MGC is one of the only government schools in the state to have such a unique program. ^[3]

Areobics

The school also offers students an aerobics program, where students are given the opportunity to compete at a national level, with recent members of the program even traveling to international competitions.

Performing Arts

An extensive co-curricular music and performing arts program supports a great choice of over 15 ensembles including an Choir, Senior School Ensemble, Concert Band, Middle School guitar ensemble and Senior Orchestra with school performances, Musicals every second year, Chorals from years 7-8 and Inter-house productions. MGC also undertakes an overseas trip to New York City for an arts based learning opportunity, where students are able to visit multiple art galleries and musicals.

Camps - Outdoor Education

Girls at every year level have opportunities to participate in the school’s extensive camping program, including residential rural camps and curriculum-based excursions such as the week-long Year 9 study of the city of Melbourne, City Experience.

References

External links

• Melbourne Girls' College Home page