Principal’s Welcome

2018 has been another outstanding year of achievements at The McDonald College beginning with being placed 55th in the State in the 2017 HSC results. The year continued in this vein.

Our Boys Tennis Team won the Australian School Boys National Competition leading them to represent Australia in the World Tennis Competitions in Italy in May 2019. Congratulations to our partners Voyager Tennis Academy and to our players Dario Kmet, Ashley Lauweriks, Ethan Lye, Mathew Nedanovski, Lachlan Rook and Michael Zhang.

STUDENT & ALUMNI congratulations

The HSC examinations are now complete. Our early congratulations go to the following students for their exemplary practical work nominations and those who have achieved early entry to the university of their choice.

CALLBACK (2U Dance)

Erica Mirarchi, Jessica Vongphachan (2 nominations), Erin McLaughlin (2 nominations)

Encore (2U Music and Ext Music)

Omri Aurich, Julia Miletta

ARTEXPRESS

Christina Lanigan

University of Wollongong

Ella Scott has been offered early entry into Bachelor of Arts (Archaeology and Ancient History)

University of New England

Tess Cornwall has been offered early entry into Bachelor of Art (Archaeology)

Melbourne University – VCA

Julia Miletta has been accepted into Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)

Other outstanding achievements for current students and graduates are:

Anthony Garcia (Year 12) has been awarded the role of Chino in West Side Story

Ryan Yates (Year 7) has been awarded the role of Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie Slater (’17) has been accepted to the Jette Parker Young Artist Program with the Queensland Ballet Co.

Also, I would like to congratulate all the students who put themselves forward for the Ann McDonald Scholarship Awards and for election as College Captains and other leadership roles. These award processes are completely democratic. The community, ie the students and staff, vote for the Prefects and Captains and the voting is final. The Ann McDonald Scholarship Awards are adjudicated by outside adjudicators to avoid any inference of favouritism.

STAFF FAREWELLS & WELCOMES

Both personally and on behalf of the College community, I thank:

• Mr Simon Bryan (IT Manager)
• Mr Richard Goggin (Mathematics Teacher)

Their contribution to The McDonald College has been greatly appreciated over many years. Both Richard and Simon are retiring at the end of 2018 and we wish them good health and much happiness over the years ahead.

Best wishes and thank you to Mr Peter Eyers (Head of Acting) as he leaves the College to take up the position of Head of Drama at SCEGGS Darlinghurst.

Congratulations to Mrs Anna Galanopoulos who will be taking Maternity Leave during 2019 pending the birth of her first child.

Mrs Leanne Harrington will be moving from the Learning Enrichment Department to take up the position of Year 3/4 Teacher in 2019.

Best wishes to Mr Derek Peat as he heads off on LSL until the end of Term 3, 2019.

Ms Suzanne Walker has accepted the position of Acting Head of English.

Dr. Tracy Newlands has been appointed as Head of HSIE.

Mrs Kirsty Dunk has accepted the position of Acting Head of Pastoral Care whilst Ms Walker guides the English Department.

At the end of Term 1 we will farewell Mr Ian Hird as our College Deputy Principal and Head of Secondary School. There will be time during Term 1 to thank him for his outstanding contribution to the College over the past six years.

We welcome to our community:

Ms Tanya Mitford – Head of Acting

Mrs Jenny McLean – Head of Learning Enrichment

Mrs Michelle Schlyder – English teacher (LSL replacement)

Mrs Dianna Hall – Learning Enrichment (Maternity Leave replacement)

JANUARY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Finally, I highly recommend that all serious ballet students take advantage of the outstanding international faculty assembled for our International Summer School in January. These are the people in Europe that will be employing our students in the future. Our Pre-Professional students should not miss the opportunity to audition for the Bavarian Junior Ballet Munich.

Maxine Kohler, MEd

Principal