Moving Towards Secondary at Toolern Vale Campus

Growing a school for the sake of growth is meaningless. But if a school grows because of its great culture, that is a very good outcome.

Our school is growing.

Fortunately, the growth is more than mere numbers. It is growth in the lives and learning of students, their families, and our staff community.

Recently, Mrs Kellie Giannes (Head of Campus: Toolern Vale) and I shared some exciting news with our Toolern Vale families who have children currently in Year 4. As the oldest students at that campus, they have naturally wondered what their campus might look like in future. We were delighted to announce that secondary education will begin at Toolern Vale campus with Year 7 in 2029.

This is significant. Year 8 will follow in 2030, and Year 9 in 2031, providing a clear pathway for students who wish to remain at, or move to that campus. Beyond 2031, it is not unlikely we will extend into Years 10, 11 and 12. We are exploring those possibilities prudently. As parents know it is preferable to promise cautiously and deliver generously.

As we know, misunderstandings could arise. For example, the erroneous belief that preserving culture requires us to preserve every practice from the past. But practices and culture are not the same thing. A growing school must not always do things exactly as it once did. That would be like squeezing into the shoes we wore as children. We are bigger now, so some things must change.

Some things must stay the same.

What must not change is College culture. As new students, families, and staff join our community, we must cultivate culture. At MCC that means keeping Christ at the centre of all we do.

As we prepare for this exciting new chapter at Toolern Vale, we thank God for His faithfulness and look forward expectantly to all that He will do in the years ahead.