THE MCDONALD COLLEGE PORTAL
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We are an independent, non-denominational, co-educational K – 12 school.
We offer performing arts & performance sports streams with an equal focus on academic rigour.

Principal’s Welcome

We were all shocked by the sudden passing of our College Chairman, Alan Brown, last month. He worked tirelessly for the College and was a philanthropist of the highest order. Alan has left this world in a better place than he found it and we are better for having known him. Thank you Alan.

There is always so much to celebrate and our College Captain deserves celebrations of his recent accolades. Micheal Zhang is not only an outstanding Tennis player winning the NSW All Schools Tennis Championships, but he has recently been chosen as part of the NSW Team to represent our State at the National Tennis Championships in May – all this whilst organising our recent Prefects Concert as our College Captain.

College Captain Micheal Zhang

As if that wasn’t enough, Micheal achieved a perfect score in his SAT examinations. The SAT is a standardised test used for US College admissions. Micheal achieved 1600 / 1600 – the 99.98th percentile. To put this achievement into perspective, over 2.1 million high school graduates were test takers from the Class of 2018. Approximately 300 people worldwide achieve 1600/1600 and the mark to be accepted to Harvard is 1520. Congratulations to Micheal!

Congratulations to another tennis student, Dario Kmet, in Year 12. Dario was recognised at an awards dinner in February with Sporting Blues with Honours and a CIS Medal.

Dario Kmet. Photo: Maxwell Photography

The Prefects Concert was an evening enjoyed by all and raised money for the charity Youth Off The Streets. Congratulations to Micheal and Kameko, all the Prefects and a huge thank you to everyone who made this event possible. A big thank you also to Ms Jasmin Douglas who led the Prefects throughout.

2019 Prefects Concert. Photo: Vivienne Linsley

After three weeks of heats and eliminations in the Isobel Anderson and Halliday Awards our ballet students reign supreme with the following results:

  • Jordan Micallef was awarded Most Outstanding Dancer in the Isobel Anderson Memorial Award and he received the Martin Rubinstein Encouragement Award for a male dancer
  • Yeonwoo Kim was awarded 1st place in Advanced 1
  • Jenna Boschen was awarded the Bloch Award for Advanced Foundation
  • Charlotte Haithwaite was awarded the Bloch Award for Intermediate Foundation
  • Ava Micallef received the 100th Birthday Joan Halliday Award
  • Lucy Cologna was awarded the Grade 4 Bloch Award
  • Jemima Atkins was awarded the Grade 5 Bloch Award
  • Henry Burgess was awarded the Overall Bloch Encouragement Award for Grades 3 – 5

Congratulations to our talented students and thank you to Ms Kesby and Mrs Edds-Gibson for going above and beyond to prepare these students to this level of achievement.

Ava Micallef. Photo: Winkipop Media

Then there were the Swimming Carnivals for the Junior School and the Secondary School where our students enjoyed a day at the pool sharing friendly competition with their friends.

In Term 2, we welcome to the children’s cast of Billy Elliot the Musical who will all be enrolled at The McDonald College for the period of their engagement with the musical.

Billy Elliot – 10th Anniversary Tour

Sadly, we farewell Mr Ian Hird as our Deputy Principal at the end of this term. Ian has been with the College for six years and during this time he has worked tirelessly to enhance learning in the secondary school, manage students and staff, to install our risk management system and lead us to renewal of our NESA Registration and Accreditation. He has done this with passion and commitment, and I thank him personally for his good humour and wise counsel. Best wishes to Ian as you move to your next employment chapter.

Congratulations to one of our teachers, Anna Galanopoulos, who welcomed a beautiful baby girl Mia into the world on the 10 April. We wish her family all of the best.

I am pleased to announce that Mrs Antoinette Colbran has accepted the position of Chair of the College Council. Antoinette has been on the Council for four years and is a strong advocate for the philosophy of the College.

As the change of weather is upon us and Term 1 is drawing to a close, I’d like to remind families that students will be required to return in Term 2 in winter uniform. This includes dark blue tights for girls (no socks or transparent stockings).

Have a safe, relaxing break and see you all in Term 2.

 

Maxine Kohler, MEd

Principal