Mentone Girls' Grammar School

Year 5 & 6 Rock the Arts Centre!

Our Creative Arts program ignites students' potential for excellence through hands-on opportunities.
Stepping beyond the classroom we endeavour to provide students with experiences that build new skills and nurture their artistic aspirations.

Last term, our Year 5 and Year 6 students went on an exciting excursion to the Channel at the Arts Centre, where they dove into the world of music creation with Acid Pro software. Exploring song structure with various instrumental samples and incorporating their own vocals, the girls became producers for the day creating their own compositions they could take home.

House Dragon Boat Race

We love nothing more than when our School community comes together. To end Term 2, our Junior School students, staff and parents brought their fierce school spirit to compete in the House Dragon Boat Race.

Classroom activity has recently immersed the girls in the fables and cultural activities associated with the very popular Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. To celebrate this long-standing tradition, students from Prep to Year 6 were divided into their House groups, battling it out across several novelty races and competitions, supported by plenty of House chants and cheers!

We also had staff and parents show their competitive sides, with a definite highlight watching our teachers take on the Year 6 students.

A well-deserved congratulations to Kent, who won the 2024 House Dragon Boat trophy, and McCowan for their exceptional chanting efforts, taking home the House Chant Cup. A very big thank you to all our families who participated in the event.

Year 11 & 12 Physics students visit Australian Synchrotron

At the end of term 2, our Year 11 and 12 Physics students explored one of Australia's most significant pieces of scientific infrastructure - the Australian Synchrotron. This major research facility produces incredibly bright light, in frequencies ranging from infra-red to hard X-rays, to enable high-impact research.

Our students were able to witness the facility in operation and engage in stimulating discussions with scientists, learning about their current projects and findings.

To consolidate their classroom knowledge, students actively participated in a hands-on laboratory session utilising technologically advanced equipment and software. During this session, students conducted experiments that simulated the working of the synchrotron beam lines and completed an experiment on light diffraction using laser light.

Real-World Learning: Work Experience Empowers Year 10 Students

To conclude the term, our year 10 students immersed themselves in our work experience program across a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, education, architecture, AI, and media.

Through hands-on projects and valuable mentorship from industry professionals, our students gained practical experience, developed crucial workplace skills and explored potential career paths.

We extend a thank you to all the employers for providing our students with the opportunity to extend their knowledge and experience of what it is like to work in these industries. The insights and skills our students have learnt will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping their future career trajectories.

Tackling environmental challenges head-on.

We are delighted to share the work of Ati Liley (Year 8) and Cerys Liley (Year 11) who contributed to World Rugby's recent landmark report.

To mark the United Nations 'World Environment Day', World Rugby invited Ati and Cerys to write a foreword for their report 'Rugby and Climate Change', which analyses the projected impacts of a world at a +2°C on the sport of Rugby.

Ati and Cerys's insightful contribution highlights the importance of youth partnership and involvement in improving environmental challenges that will impact their generation and future generations.

We congratulate Ati and Cerys for their leadership and commitment to a sustainable future.

Happy World Music Day!

At Mentone Girls' Grammar, music goes far beyond scales and techniques. We're fortunate to have a team of passionate and accomplished musicians who bring real-world experience into the classroom, teaching the next generation of performers.

At Mentone Girls’ Grammar, an education in music is a journey of exploration and expression. Our curriculum is designed to foster a love for music in all its forms, equipping students with the skills to not only play, but also to interpret, listen critically, and creatively express themselves. These valuable lessons extend beyond the music rooms, building skills that benefit students in their academic pursuits, emotional development, and overall wellbeing.

A huge congratulations to Sanuli Mudannayake who won first place in the Statewide Rotary Public Speaking Competition held at Parliament House.

Sanuli’s speech, entitled “The Life I Could Have Known”, reflected on her Sri Lankan roots against the backdrop of her Australian childhood.

The Rotary Competition provided the forum for winners and runners up of the Bayspeak, Wynnspeak and Ainger Peck Public Speaking Competitions to compete in a venue that epitomises the value of oral rhetoric.

Following her presentation, Sanuli had the privilege of a private tour through the Parliamentary chamber. The entire Mentone Girls’ Grammar community is incredibly proud of Sanuli on this brilliant accolade – well done!

Congratulations to all students who competed at the TFT Aerobics, Dance and Glee State competition!

We are thrilled to announce that 73 students (Year 2 - Year 12), have qualified for the TFT Aerobics, Dance and Glee National Championships. These students will be heading to Adelaide in August, where they'll be head-to-head with Australia's top talent!

We are extremely proud of every student for their unwavering commitment and dedication and their outstanding performance against exceptionally tough competition - some key highlights from the day include:

▪️ Senior Fitness Team: Achieved an outstanding score of 89!
▪️ Paige L: Won gold in both dance auditions
▪️ Junior Aerobics Stage 3 Team: Competed in this section for the first time, and won, qualifying for nationals

We wish all our competitors the best of luck as they train for the upcoming National Championships!

Effie & Minnie Simpson: Two sisters, One Vision.

Upon the opening of our School 125 years ago, Effie and Minnie held leadership roles, whilst their sisters Ethel and Daisy were enrolled as the first pupils.

From day one, Effie cemented her education philosophy of excellence from both students and teachers. Offering a progressive curriculum that emphasised sciences and humanities, interest from the greater community grew rapidly.

From academic pioneers to inspiring leaders, our founders alongside our alumnae have made significant contributions in various fields, leaving an indelible mark on society.

The spirit of innovation and empowerment thrives at Mentone Girls' Grammar today. Our vibrant community continues to foster academic excellence, encourages creativity, and cultivates solid values and a sense of freedom for girls to explore their passions.

Our Year 5 students become local artists!

Mentone Girls' Grammar was invited to be a part of the Southern Program Alliance project. Students brought to life three large scale artworks with 'bayside' at its core. These works are currently showcased at the Parkdale railway precinct for our local community to enjoy.

Thank you to all the students involved in this positive contribution, highlighting our connection to community, culture and place.

Aquatic Centre School holiday programs!

From learn-to-swim to diving from great heights, secure your place. Our extensive programs are available to all Mentone Girls’ Grammar families and the broader community. For more information on our programs head to our website, click the link in our bio or simply call us for a chat on (+61 3) 9581 1221. We look forward to seeing you!

The Ethics Olympiad is a competitive environment where students thoughtfully discuss pressing issues. Unlike debating, students are not assigned opposing views; instead, they defend the position they believe is right and win by showing their thoughtfulness and understanding of the issue.

Congratulations to our Senior students for their impressive results, winning gold and bronze medals. We look forward to winning the team competing in the international final in July.

Gold medal winners: Hannah, Sanuli, Melissa, Amelie, and Bianca
Bronze medal winners: Evie, Emily, Bhavithra, Emma and Ruby (absent)

Mentone Girls’ Soccer finalists

Congratulations to our Year 5/6 Soccer team for their tenacity, teamwork and drive at the district school sports, competing against 10 schools, our team came second overall after an undefeated streak in their pool. Proudly coached by Aimee Medwin our strength and conditioning coach and A league player, the girls were commended on their sportsmanship and determination over the 5 games.

Appreciation for Performing Arts takes us beyond the classroom.

Our Year 3 and 4 students experienced The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Li Cunxin's 'The Peasant Prince' at the Melbourne Recital Centre. This immersive experience brought to life our students' understanding of the orchestra and music performance.

Champion Coach Makes a Splash

A warm welcome to Dean Murphy, a Fina World Masters Champion and distinguished diving judge with an impressive 40 years of experience, as our new Head Diving Coach. Dean is more than just a coach; he's a passionate mentor who inspires confidence, focus, and self-belief in our students.

At Mentone Girls' Grammar, we are committed to empowering young women to achieve their full potential, and Dean perfectly embodies this philosophy. He will undoubtedly drive excellence in our diving program in the pool and beyond.

Sharpening minds and building good habits: Exercise Matters

Incorporating exercise into our students' routines benefits their academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being. Whether it is gym, netball, AFL or gymnastics, the benefits apply to everyone, regardless of our students’ preferred activities.

That’s why our health and well-being programs support students passionate about elite sports and those who want to develop healthy habits from an early age.

Our newly launched Strength and Conditioning Centre is a new addition to the Sports Precinct. Available to all students, our centre offers training, mentoring, and support to help our students maintain a healthy, balanced life.

Celebrate 125 Years of Nurturing Confident and Compassionate young women at Mentone Girls' Grammar

Join us for an evening surrounded by art and inspiration at the spectacular National Gallery of Victoria as we celebrate 125 years of educational excellence.

Limited tickets are available. Book a table or reserve your seat at what’s promised to be a memorable celebration of our community. 💃

National School Sport: 2024 Volleyball Championships

Congratulations to Ellie Mellings who's been selected to represent Team Vic in the National School Sport Australia, 2024 Volleyball Championships. Ellie will compete in the prestigious event at Olympic Park – Sydney, next week. This is a testament to Ellie's hard work, dedication and focus. Go Ellie!

Reconciliation Week has played a significant part in our cultural awareness program across our School.

Our Early Learning students learnt how reconciliation means coming together to say sorry. Both Kindergarten and Pre-Preps visited Parkdale Library to listen to stories by Indigenous authors, and our Pre-Preps created a footprint mural to symbolise our commitment to ‘walk together’ with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the journey of reconciliation.

Reconciliation. Awareness & Acknowledgment.

As part of National Reconciliation Week our senior school students were incredibly fortunate to welcome and hear from the inspiring Nartarsha Bamblett, a remarkable First Nations woman, empowering speaker, entrepreneur, and cultural educator.

Nartarsha shared her story and her family’s heritage and history with our girls and staff in our senior school assembly. A lasting impression from her time with us at Mentone Girls’ Grammar is Nartarsha’s commitment to non-indigenous Australians joining her on the path to reconciliation, driving meaningful action towards a shared future built on respect and understanding. Key takeaways for the girls also included their connection to themselves, the land, and each other in a very moving presentation to our school. Thank you for visiting our school, Nartarsha.

We also heard from our Year 9 girls about their time On Country in Central Australia and our School Captain, Meagan, who spoke to this year’s theme of “Now More than Ever”.

High School to Harvard!

Last night we were fortunate enough to gain a sneak peek into life at one of the world’s most influential and highest ranked universities; Harvard. Founded in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and renowned for educating some of the most intelligent and successful minds of our time.

A fully captivated room were enlightened with stories and insights from students who have made the transition from Melbourne to the United States to pursue their studies across a range of career paths. Our panel included Rodmehr Basidj currently undertaking Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science, Jackson Coombs studying Integrative Biology and Economics and Max Fan is an undergraduate student majoring in English and Pure Mathematics.

From the experience of student life to managing application strategies, and academic achievements to date, hearing their real life stories and experiences provided tangible insights in to studying abroad.

A huge thank you to our speakers for igniting inspiration in our students, we have no doubt many of our girls will be looking to follow their paths as they navigate their educational journeys.

Momentous Reflection: 125 Years of Mentone Girls' Grammar

In 1899, Mentone Girls’ Grammar was founded on the fundamental belief that girls could achieve anything. The visionary Simpson sisters—Effie, Minnie, Ethel, and Daisy—laid the foundation for an education that empowers girls. Since then, generations of dedicated teachers, passionate students, supportive families, and phenomenal alumnae have carried the torch.

Yesterday, our community filled St Paul’s Cathedral with incredible energy and pride as we reflected on and celebrated our School's rich history at this year’s extra special Founder's Day service.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this event so joyous.

Just like the Simpson Sisters, we have an eye on the future. Here's to the next chapter as we continue to foster a love of learning, ignite creativity, and empower young women to change the world.

An all-girls education actively engages, challenges, inspires and effectively prepares students for success both academically and more broadly.

The 2023 research conducted by the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools uncovered, an all-girls’ environment creates a culture of achievement whereby, ‘more than 80 percent of girls’ school graduates consider their academic performance to be highly successful.’

At Mentone Girls’ Grammar, each girl is Known, Seen and Heard, through her academic journey and supported to succeed in whichever pathway she chooses.

Learn more about why girls learn best in a class of their own via https://www.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au/about/an-all-girls-education/top-10-benefits-of-choosing-an-all-girls-education/

Our Year 9 students were fortunate enough to spend ten unforgettable days exploring Central Australia for their annual camp.

On Country on Indigenous Land, the girls were quick to immerse themselves in the local community and jump straight into all the activities on offer.

From camel rides at sunset, to hikes through majestic gorges and scenic walks, visiting local schools and community centres, traditional dot painting with a local indigenous leader, sleeping under the stars and witnessing mesmerising sunsets at Uluru, our students made the most of every moment, fully engaging with the diverse culture and stunning landscapes of Australia's heartland.

The trip was also a transformative journey, allowing the girls to delve deep into learning beyond the classroom. From serving the community to exploring Indigenous culture, they linked classroom knowledge to real-world impact. A digital detox also encouraged reflection and genuine connections.

The girls are still buzzing from the trip, with memories and experiences to last a lifetime.

The truth is, Mentone Girls’ know the only limits are the ones they make.

Across the School, there are a number of students who have accomplished phenomenal success across Sport. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication and focus and as a community, would like to congratulate them on their achievements.

The following girls have recently competed in National or State competitions:

Leila Simpson (Year 11)
Represented the Victorian U17 Netball team at the National Championships and has since been selected in the Australian U17 Netball Squad.

Lauren Anderson (Year 10)
Represented the Victorian U16 Hockey team at the National Championships.

Rosie Taylor (Year 10)
Represented the Victorian Metro U16 Girls in the AFL National Championships.

Kara Lander (Year 8)
Competed at the Australian Age Swimming Championships and qualified for the U13 Backstroke 200m, 100m and 50m.

Charli Sullivan (Year 10) & Madi Carr (Year 11)
Competed at the Australian Athletics Championships. Charli qualified for both the U17 100m and 100m Hurdles. Madi competed in the U18 Heptathlon and Shot Put events.

Amitie Crowhurst (Year 9) & Olivia Weatherhead (Year 10)
Competed at the Interschool State Championships. Both girls represented Mentone Girls' Grammar in multiple events over 4 days including Dressage, Showjumping and Combined Training with terrific results; Amitie securing a place at the Nationals with Olivia a reserve place.

These are all incredible achievements, congratulations, we can't wait to see what you do next.