2016 School Magazine

CKAY

MARVELLOUS MACKAY

2016 has been an incredible year for Mackay House. Right from the very first day of Term I, in true Mackay style our Angels have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into all aspects of Girls Grammar life. They have exemplified persistence, dedication and spirit - qualities which embody the Mackay spirit. Headed by unconditionally supportive and ever-positive Ms Ruth Jans, Mackay House is a cohesive and tenacious group of kind-hearted young women who, united as a team, have spread their wings to reach incredible new heights. We are fortunate to have a diverse range of girls, each possessing unique talents and abilities. Thus, integration and unification through the constant support of one another has been a core focus for our House. The school hashtag (#blunity) endorses unification of the grades and of the Houses and we believe that this has been fully embraced by Mackay’s 2016 motto: ‘Unite the White’. Entering high school can be a daunting experience, however, by providing a sense of belonging and by promoting individuality, Mackay always seeks to create an environment in which all girls can thrive. The benefits of this positive mindset, for both the whole House and for each and every girl, has been evident particularly through the attendance and participation in the many 2016 House events. Long being recognised as the underdogs, Mackay’s determination and persistence to grow and evolve as a House has made for a tremendous year of achievements. With the help of Ms Jans and all our House Group Teachers, we focused on the concept of challenging and changing our attitude and performance in the interhouse competitions. Their constant support and encouragement of each and every girl payed off as Mackay achieved great success. We started the year with our House ‘Toga’ Party which was an absolute success. It made us so happy to see so many girls fully embracing the theme and involving themselves in the fun and games. The first interhouse competition started with a bang or — perhaps more suitably — a splash as we switched our wings for swimming caps and goggles and powered through the pool. Then in Term II, our House sense of unity and grit was clearly seen in our ‘sole spirit’ shining through during Cross Country. Finally, in the Athletics Carnival we conquered the ‘curse’ and achieved the incredible: fourth place. Special mention must go to our House Sports Captains who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of every event and every Mackay Angel. Our Service Captains carefully chose The Lady Musgrave Trust as our charity this year and the generous spirit of our House’s fundraising efforts will go towards this organisation being able to help provide accommodation and support for young women in need. Our fabulous Open Day stall has once again played a large role in this year’s charity fundraising and we congratulate the amazing Year 11s who managed the stall so well. Thanks must also go to our Mackay Baby Angels – this year’s Year 7s –

who also made Open Day special by meeting and greeting the 2017 Mackay Angels. Truly, this has been a remarkable year for Mackay. As House Captains, we could not be prouder of our community and how far we have come. We have pushed ourselves to be bigger and better, not only as individuals but most importantly as a ‘family’. Such great achievements could not have been possible without the unwavering support and kindness of our Head of House, Ms Jans, and all of our House Group teachers, House Prefects, our 12M peers and the girls who served so well as House Group/Sport Captains. We have no doubt that the enthusiasm, perseverance and unification that was displayed by Mackay in 2016 will continue into the following years to come.

ELLA CHAPMAN AND BRIGITTE O’BRIEN HOUSE CAPTAINS

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