- For other schools of a similar name, see Methodist Ladies' College.
| MLC School | |
|---|---|
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| Ut Filiae Lucis Ambulate (Latin:"Walk as Daughters of the Light") |
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| Established | 1886 |
| School Type | Independent, Single-sex, Day school |
| Denomination | Uniting Church |
| Slogan | "Dare to be more" |
| Key People | Mrs. Barbara Stone (Principal), Mr. Russell K Foxe (Chairman), Rev P. Bent & Rev. Naomi Cooke (Chaplain) |
| School Fees | AU$10,168 p.a-AU$17,787 p.a[1] |
| Location | Burwood, New South Wales, Australia |
| Enrolment | 1250 (K-12)[2] |
| Employees | 146[3] |
| Colours | Navy Blue, Light Blue & Gold |
| Homepage | www.mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au |
MLC School is an independent, non-selective, day school for girls, located in Burwood, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1886 as a school of the Methodist Church of Australasia, MLC currently caters for approximately 1250 students from Kindergarten to year 12,[2] and is now a Uniting Church of Australia school. MLC is a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (AHIGS),[4] the Alliance of Girls Schools Australia,[5] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),[6] and the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA).[7] The school prepares students from the School Certificate, the Higher School Certificate, and since August 1999, the International Baccalaureate. In 2001, The Sun-Herald ranked MLC School ninth in Australia's top ten girls' schools, based on the number of its alumni mentioned in the Who's Who in Australia (a listing of notable Australians).[8][a]
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History
MLC School opened with 10 students in January, 1886 as "Wesleyan Ladies College" - five years after women had first gained admission to the University of Sydney. The Sydney Morning Herald announced the impending school opening, and wrote of the School "making provision for those who wish to prepare for university honours." The first Principal was Charles Prescott. The school colours and crest were chosen after the opening of the school. The colours - bands of dark blue around a band of pale blue were chosen for Oxford and Cambridge, and the crest comprises the book of learning and the star of knowledge. The school motto was also chosen from the Vulgate, "Ut filiae lucis ambulate" meaning, "Walk as daughters of the Light." The school song "Here in this house" consists of lyrics by Poet Laureate John Masefield set to music by Australian Composer Lindley Evans. In 1899, the name of the school was changed to "Burwood Ladies’ College", and changed again in 1907 to "Methodist Ladies’ College" (M.L.C.) . When the Uniting Church in Australia was formed in 1977, the school became known as "MLC School Burwood". MLC was a boarding school until the end of 1978. The decision to close down the boarding school being made after extensive damage caused by a fire in January 1977. The fire burned down much of the boarders rooms, dining room, offices and classrooms. Thankfully no students were in the area as it was during the school holidays. Apparently thieves decided to steal items from the dining room and then burned it down to cover their tracks. Building works completed in 1981 added the current Chapel (former dining room), Art and music studios and drama theatre to the school. The music centre was completed for the school Centenary year in 1986. In 2003, the MLC Aquatic Centre was opened. It contains a swimming pool and a small gymnasium.
Principals
| Period | Details[9] |
|---|---|
| 1886 – ? | Rev. Charles J. Prescott |
| 1886 – 1887 | Miss E Shiels |
| 1887 – 1909 | Miss Minnie Wearne |
| 1909 – 1912 | Miss Jessie Heatherington |
| 1912 – 1940 | Miss Mabel Sutton |
| 1941 – 1959 | Dr Gloadys Wade |
| 1960 – 1972 | Dr Alice Whitley |
| 1973 – 1989 | Rev Kenneth Cornwell |
| 1990 – Present | Mrs Barbara Stone |
Curriculum
MLC School is registered and accredited with the New South Wales Board of Studies, and therefore follows the mandated curriculum for all years. In Year 10, students are prepared for the School Certificate, and in Year 12, the Higher School Certificate (HSC). MLC became an IB World School in August 1999, and offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) to approximately 75 students,[10] as an alternative to the HSC.
Co-Curriculum
Sport
Primary School students may partake in competitive sport through the MLC's membership of the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA). These competitions are usually held on saturday mornings and include sports such as: Tee-Ball/Softball, Tennis, Netball, Cricket, Minkey/Hockey, and Soccer.
Secondary School students compete against 27 other similar type schools in the Independent Girls' Schools Sporting Association (IGSSA) competition. These competitions occur on Saturday mornings or in the form of carnivals and include sports such as: Softball, Swimming, Diving, Cricket, Tennis, Athletics, Cross Country, Rowing, Hockey, Soccer, Water Polo, Basketball and Gymnastics. Students who perform well at JSHAA or IGSSA level may be invited to compete in NSW Combined Independent Schools' (CIS) competitions.
House System
The house system was established in 1942, with four house's, each Aboriginal words:
- Mooramoora: "good spirit" (green)
- Leawarra: "uprising" (violet)
- Churunga: "sacred place" (gold)
- Booralee: "an ideal to which we must aspire" (red)
The colours were chosen to combine with the indigo and light blue of the school colours to create white light, to echo the school motto. The names were chosen to spell the school's initials, M.L.C. B (Burwood). In MLC's high school, there are now ten houses altogether, including four from Kent House. The other six are Abbeythorpe (dark green), Prescott (blue), Wade (aqua), Whitley (maroon), Lester (orange) and Sutton (pink). The six additional houses are named after notable persons that taught at the school. Abbeythorpe House takes its name from one of the original homes on the school site, which was for many years the Junior School until it was demolished. "Kent House", the Primary school, still utilises the original four houses. Each House has a Head of House and House Tutors. There is an inter-house competition is a part of every year as Houses vie for Honours in Debating, Chess, Literature, Athletics Cross-Country and Swimming to take out the Spirit and Points Trophies on Speech Night at the end of the year.
Notable alumni
- Academic
- Kate Brennan - 2007 Rhodes Scholar (also attended Tara Anglican School for Girls and Fort Street High School)[11]
- Janis Milburn - Educator, Headmistress of New England Girls' School
- Entertainment, Media and the Arts
- Helen Joyce Haenke - Poet and playwright[12]
- Annika Kaban - Australian model
- Chrissie Rose - Co-host of defunct television program Girl TV (also attended Presbyterian Ladies' College, Meriden School and Reddam House)
- Yoko Shimizu - Producer for Channel 7's breakfast news program 'Sunrise'
- Nikki Webster - Singer, Actress, Dancer, Contestant on 'Dancing With the Stars' (also attended The McDonald College)
- Medicine and Science
- Politics and Law
- Marla Pearlman - Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court
- Sport
- Penelope Blackmore - Commonwealth Games Rhythmic Gymnast
- Lorraine Crapp - Olympic diver and swimmer in the 1960s
- Felicity Galvez - Olympic Swimmer
- Elizabeth Kell - Australian Rower
Associated schools
MLC's brother school is Newington College at Stanmore, a Uniting Church Day and Boarding School for Boys'. MLC's sister school is Ravenswood School for Girls at Gordon, a Uniting Church, Day and Boarding School for Girls'.
References
- ^ MLC School Fees 2007 (accessed:08-05-2007)
- ^ a b MLC School Facts and Figures 2007 (accessed:08-08-2006)
- ^ MLC School Annual Report 2006 (accessed:17-07-2007)
- ^ Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (accessed:08-08-2007)
- ^ The Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia: Member Schools (accessed:08-08-2007)
- ^ JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members (accessed:08-08-2007)
- ^ Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (accessed:08-08-2007)
- ^ Walker, Frank. "The ties that bind", Sunday Life, The Sun-Herald, 2001-07-22, p. 16. Retrieved on 2007-09-12.
- ^ Heads of New South Wales Independent Girls' Schools (accessed:23-07-2007)
- ^ MLC School. IB World Schools. International Baccalaureate (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
- ^ O'Shaughnessy, Jake (2006-10-19). Sydney student wins NSW Rhodes Scholarship. News. The University of Sydney. Retrieved on 2007-09-24.
- ^ Anthony, Delyse (1996). Haenke, Helen Joyce (1916 - 1978). Australian Dictionary of Biography 350-351. Melbourne University Press. Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
- ^ Scollay, Moira (1979). Anderson, Phyllis Margery (1901 - 1957). Australian Dictionary of Biography 61. Melbourne University Press. Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
- ^ Elmslie, Ronald (1993). Abbie, Andrew Arthur (1905 - 1976). Australian Dictionary of Biography 1-2. Melbourne University Press. Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
Notes
- ^ Who's Who of girls' school rankings: 1.PLC Melbourne, 2.SCEGGS Darlinghurst, 3.MLC Melbourne, 4.PLC Sydney, 5.Melbourne Girls Grammar School, 6.Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, 7.North Sydney Girls High School, 8.Sydney Girls High School, 9.MLC Sydney, 10.University High School, Melbourne
See also
External links
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| Abbotsleigh • Ascham • Brigidine • Calrossy • Canberra GGS • Danebank • Frensham • Kambala • Kincoppal • Loreto Kirribilli • Loreto Normanhurst • Meriden • MLC • Monte • NEGS OLMC • PLC Armidale • PLC Sydney • Pymble • Queenwood • Ravenswood • Roseville • SCEGGS • St Catherine's • St Clare's • St Vincent's • Santa Sabina • Tara • Wenona |
