The PFA has elected a new committee, Mother's Day festivities were a great success, and alum sharing their creative pursuits.
The past few weeks at Camberwell Girls have seen a vibrant start to Term Two, with students embracing a wide range of programs and events.
Thank you to our Secondary School families and students who took the time to engage in Learning Conversations with our staff. These conversations offer valuable insights into each student’s progress and areas for growth, playing a crucial role in strengthening the partnership between school, parents/guardians, and students. We encourage families to maintain this dialogue throughout the year, as staying connected is essential to fostering academic success. The myCGGS portal remains a central hub for feedback on student progress—we urge parents/guardians to use this platform regularly to stay informed and engaged.
A highlight of the past fortnight was the annual and much-anticipated Music Camp, where our talented musicians honed their skills and prepared for upcoming performances, including the Founders Service and the European Music Tour. The camp was a resounding success, filled with creativity, collaboration, and a shared passion for music.
Just this week, we also saw our athletes compete in an exhilarating House Athletics Carnival on Monday, 5 May. The weather was spectacular, and the day was brimming with energy, House spirit, and camaraderie, making it a memorable experience for both students and staff. Congratulations to Lawrence House for winning the event and to Schofield House for taking out the House Spirit Stick. With only a few days until House Cross Country, we look forward to seeing our students once again show their determination, teamwork, and House pride.
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
Tom Clark
Head of Middle School
On Friday 26 April, four Year 9 students and two Year 6 students attended the Dawn Service at the Kew RSL. With daybreak being a favoured time for attack in World War One (1914-1918), soldiers were often woken just prior to dawn to ensure that they were awake and alert prior to first light. The Dawn Service is a period of reflection for many, remembering those who have fallen in battle and giving thanks for the contributions and sacrifices of our armed forces.
During the Dawn Service at the Kew RSL, students heard stories of great courage and resilience from this period and sang a hymn, before observing the Last Post and a minute of silence. A powerful and moving experience for all involved. After the service, students and staff enjoyed a ‘Gunfire breakfast’ with others in the community. Thank you to all students, staff and parents/guardians involved in this event.
Tom Clark
Head of Middle School
Last weekend 102 students travelled to the Camp Manyung Music Camp, ready for an action-packed three days of rehearsals. The European Music Tour ensembles and choirs were able to rehearse intensively on their pieces, alongside many other groups. The Music Camp was a great opportunity for students to actively participate in a range of music groups and enjoy a range of fun challenges. The weekend was of particular significance to the Year 12 musicians, as it was their final Music Camp. All students worked alongside our expert Music staff in rehearsals, refining performance skills and had fun participating in the organised activities. Sunday’s shared performances were a fantastic display of everyone’s hard work, made more memorable by the combined Orchestra-Band playing the Star Wars Main Title on May the 4th! In addition to rehearsing with friends throughout the weekend, there were many opportunities to connect between year levels. The traditional music trivia night hosted by our School Music Captain Elysia W and supported by our Music Mentors, was a highpoint of the camp, with the theme providing the opportunity for students to dress up in the costume of their favourite music icon. Many thanks to the staff who attended and supported us with their generous spirit and enthusiasm.
School Music Captain and Music Mentor: Elysia W and Nonie M
Kate Savige
Director of Music
It was a beautiful, sunny day on Wednesday the 30th of April when the Year 10s embarked on their fieldwork to the You Yangs. Their aim was to investigate the environmental change and management of the park.
There was excitement on the bus as the You Yangs came into view. The striking 350-million-year-old granite range rises conspicuously above the western volcanic plains. A place that lives up to its name, “You Yangs” comes from the Aboriginal words Wurdi Youang or Ude Youang, which are understood to mean “big mountain in the middle of a plain,” “big or large hill,” or “bald.”
While there, students heard from Vanessa, a Parks Victoria ranger, about the changes to the area over time and the challenges the park often faces in managing the land. They also learned about the importance of the You Yangs as a cultural and ecological site.
Some students shared their reflections on the fieldwork:
Students will now look forward to crafting their fieldwork report on environmental change and management.
Ben McManamny
Geography Teacher
The CGGS Ignite Commerce Masterclasses provided our Years 11 and 12 students with engaging and enriching learning experiences to enhance their curriculum knowledge. Students explored advanced academic concepts and niche skills, deepening their theoretical understanding and further exploring links to practical application.
In the VCE Accounting Masterclass, students heard about ethical considerations when making business decisions, and the importance of accountability and ethical judgment in maintaining trust and credibility in financial reporting. Through a series of real-life examples, integrity and transparency were highlighted, and students could see the challenges for business owners in maximising profits whilst being considerate of broader social and environmental consequences.
In the VCE Business Management Masterclass, students heard from an industry expert who shared practical knowledge on Human Resource management, emphasising performance appraisals, communication and negotiation, and strategic planning. Students gained valuable insights into evolving industry standards and expectations which supplemented their learning of Area of Study 2 Human Resource Management.
The VCE Legal Studies Masterclass focussed on examination techniques and task words. Students analysed case studies and higher-order thinking examination questions and learnt about structuring responses to best demonstrate breadth and scope of understanding.
The Commerce department was pleased to facilitate an Informal Masterclass with Year 10. Students were introduced to potential VCE Commerce pathways through presentations from VCE subject teachers and three guest alumni speakers. Tina Ma, Tara Rastogi and Jessica Terliker, who generously shared their time and wisdom, offering insights into their personal journeys and highlighting how subjects within the Commerce discipline shaped their tertiary pathways. They offered practical study tips and important perspectives on how Commerce builds essential competencies like critical thinking, collaboration and effective communication.
The Commerce department sincerely thanks our alumni for engaging so willingly with the Year 10s and for providing such meaningful reflections and advice.
Erin McEwan
Head of Commerce
The Fuse Cup Mario Kart Secondary Division brought high-octane excitement as our eight student racers put their skills to the test. Early highlights included Ellie and Steph each claiming 1st place victories, while Ashlyn secured a 3rd. Sienna delivered one of the most dramatic moments – using a red shell on the final turn and executing a cliff-edge shortcut to catch an exciting win and advance through to the next round.
After the break, Chloe came out firing with a 1st place, and Amelia and Emma both advanced with strong finishes, while Abigail took a 3rd place finish. By the end of round one, six of the eight racers had qualified for the last 32 stage.
In the next round, Chloe, Ellie, Steph and Sienna all dominated with 1st place finishes, while Emma and Amelia’s runs were ended despite impressive efforts.
The competition heated up in the quarterfinals with Sienna and Steph facing some of the top racers in the country and just missing out. Ellie’s match showed promise, but she had just missed out qualifying by just 1 point. Chloe was the last student left in it, and she came out with a great result, which qualified her through to her first semi-final. She fought hard in the semi-final but narrowly missed the grand final with a respectable 3rd place finish.
An outstanding tournament run for all, filled with great sportsmanship, teamwork, and edge-of-your-seat races.
Students: Ellie T, Sienna J, Amelia A, Stephanie M, Emma C, Chloe Z, Ashlyn C, Abigail i, Matilda C (reserve), Charvi D (reserve), and Ava P (reserve).
Staff: Mr. Sam Fitzgerald and Mr. Mark Major
On Friday 2nd May, our Year 7 students had the privilege of meeting Gregg Dreise, a celebrated author, artist, and musician known for his high energy storytelling and deep connection to his Indigenous heritage. Gregg started the session in the Brooksbank Library by teaching the students a traditional gathering song in his Kamilaroi language complete with dance movements. It was amazing to watch all the students perform this together with Gregg who also incorporated the didgeridoo, clapsticks and bullroarer into the welcome.
A highlight of the session was when Gregg performed his book “Common Wealth” as a slam poetry piece. This story is a powerful and persuasive vision of unity which draws from the words of the Australian national anthem, and is a plea for a future built on truth, togetherness, and respect for the nation’s deep history. In his performance, Gregg used his unique blend of passion and peacefulness to convey a message that resonated with the Year 7 audience.
During his visit, Gregg also emphasised the power of storytelling, art, and music as tools for self-expression and cultural preservation. He reflected on his own writing challenges while at school and encouraged the students to explore their own creative talents, persist in their beliefs and to take pride in their cultural backgrounds.
The visit from Gregg provided our students with a deeper understanding of Indigenous culture and the importance of respecting and celebrating diversity. The students not only enjoyed the engaging activities but also gained valuable insights into the rich cultural heritage of Australia.
Sally Spencer
Teacher Librarian
In March, a group of six students were selected from our CGGS Rock Bands to form a band for the Harwyn ‘Battle of the Bands’ national competition, to be in the running to win a Harwyn pre-fabricated music ‘pod’ building, as well as a large pool of money for the band members to purchase new instruments. The students selected, rehearsed, memorised and recorded two contrasting songs, in addition to their regular commitments, developing a very strong video submission. Each song contained new techniques and music production details to workshop, which demanded high levels of independence and confidence to achieve. We are extremely proud of our students and their submission, though the band did not make it through to the final round on this occasion. Their name ‘Shizuka Riot’ reflected a love of anime within the band and ‘shizuka’ translates from Japanese to quiet, calm or gentle [Quiet Riot]. We look forward to participating in the competition again.
Mathew Duniam
Music Teacher
Over the recent term break, several of our students embraced the opportunity to participate in Work Experience programs. These placements are a valuable way for students to:
We’re proud to share reflections from Maddie W and Elsie M of their unique experiences.
British Consulate
Over the holidays I was given the opportunity to attend work experience at the British Consulate in Melbourne. This invaluable experience gave me greater insight into the work that goes into relationships between countries like Australia and the UK, and the importance of foreign affairs in our society.
The tasks I completed were centred around the upcoming Federal election, one of the main projects being collating a series of election results and maps of all the federal elections from 1990 until 2022. This gave particular insight into the changes occurring in our country and the trends of the 2025 election.
I was also given the chance to shadow a number of meetings and activities, chair a team meeting, visit election candidates in Aston, the Liberal headquarters, and the Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
This was a great opportunity to gain exposure to the workforce and an industry that I am particularly passionate about. Ultimately, this experience solidified my desire to work in foreign affairs and gave me a better understanding of where I can take my future.
Maddie W
Maria Island | University of Tasmania
At the very start of the first week of Term Two, I left for Tasmania to experience a short, intensive, and amazing week of Marine Field Biology. During the week, we stayed at Maria Island, an island off the east coast of Tasmania with a marine reserve.
While at Maria Island, we took samples of four different marine fauna types, fishes, infauna, zooplankton and intertidal fauna. These samples were adding on to nine years of data which had started being collected in 2015, a decade ago.
Learning about the different methods of sampling, such as quadrat counts, transect lines, and physical sample collection has helped broaden my understanding of Marine Biology as well as extend my skills in a surprisingly hands-on way.
After all the new data was collected, we analysed it in different groups, discovering different data trends and changes that have occurred over the years. While this might sound boring, I discovered some extremely interesting things about Zooplankton species and their abundance.
To round out the experience, we ended by giving an oral presentation on our findings to an audience. The whole week was very educational, but also extremely fun, and an opportunity of a lifetime!
Elsie M
Ashley Nguyen
Head of Careers Education
There has been a lot happening in sport over the past few weeks with students competing in school, club and state competitions with some fantastic results and celebrate their achievements in the articles below.
A reminder the Term 2 GSV Weekly Sports to be contested are: AFL, Hockey and Netball with Round 1 matches having commenced last week.
Cameron Childs
Director of Sports
The final week of Term One brought with it great excitement for CGGS Softball, with the Intermediate team progressing to the A Division Grand Final and the Junior B Division team claiming a zone premiership, on their way to the Semi-Finals.
The Intermediate side produced some inspirational play in the Grand Final, at one stage taking the lead with some outstanding hitting against the competition’s leading pitcher.
The Junior B team were gallant in their Semi-Final display, narrowly missing out on the season decider by a single run.
During the term break, Year 9 student Jenny J travelled to Tokyo, Japan with the Australian U18 Volleyball Team.
Jenny is a member of the Volleyball Australia National Performance Program and recently played in the victorious GSV Representative Team which defeated the AGSV side in Term One.
Whilst in Japan, the Australian team played against university and secondary school teams from all over the country, as well as participating in a rigorous training program.
Jenny relished the friendships she developed with her Australian teammates and her Japanese counterparts. She enjoyed great adventures while experiencing Tokyo over the 12-day campaign – from navigating a foreign language, seeing the stunning cherry blossoms in full bloom, travelling on the world-famous rail system, to the sheer awe of negotiating so many people in the one city.
We wish Jenny every success in her ambitions to gain selection to the U17 Victorian team for the upcoming national youth competition in Perth, along with the 2026 Asian Championships in Thailand.
Congratulations once again to Anika S (Year 11) on playing all seven matches for Victoria at the recent 2025 Hockey Australia U16 Championships in Adelaide.
Anika and her teammates produced some exceptional play across the week-long tournament, winning five matches, drawing one and losing one match on their way to claiming the bronze medal. The Victorians overcame the top-ranked NSW side to gain the medal and stake a place on the podium.
This national contest marked the sixth occasion in which Anika has been selected to a Victorian team – a stunning accomplishment.
Anika referenced how every match contained great memories, as her Big V teammates battled it out against the best in the nation, whilst enduring cold water recovery in the ocean and participating in meditation sessions each evening.
Playing at this elite level will be of great advantage to the CGGS Hockey program this term in GSV play, as Anika role models her knowledge and expertise to her peers on the pitch.
Off the back of her exceptional performances at the Victorian State Athletics Championship, Nawita D (Year 8) travelled to the west to represent Victoria at the Australian Junior Nationals in Perth earlier this month.
Nawita credits the experience as a wonderful learning opportunity and will benefit from exposure to the cauldron of high-level competition as she sets her sights on the Australian Track & Field Championships (U13-U18) in June.
Congratulations to Year 9 student, Angela N on her recent tennis triumphs throughout the Term One school holidays.
Angela travelled to the western district to win the Tennis Victoria U14 Victorian State Team Championship.
With 170 players competing from across 13 associations/regions, Angela produced some superb court-play to prevail as a state champion.
Not content to rest on her laurels, Angela then claimed victory in the J250 U14 Eastern Region Tennis Association Tournament.
These exceptional performances see Angela rise to a national ranking of 12th in the country for 16U Girls.
In her first-ever term of coaching a CGGS sporting team, Liana Robinson (CGGS 2024) led the Junior B Division Softball team to a zone premiership and a Semi-Final.
As a student at Camberwell Girls, Liana played in top teams in the catcher and first base positions throughout her Senior School career, winning two zone premierships and one GSV Division Championship. In fact, Liana’s softball experience has come full circle, as this year she coached alongside Ms Liza Stevens (HPE Head of Department) who was her Year 7 coach back in 2019!
Liana loved her first coaching experience, contributing to the learning and development of students and re-connecting with CGGS Softball.
The PFA has elected a new committee, Mother's Day festivities were a great success, and alum sharing their creative pursuits.
Grandparents, special friends, an author, and Murrundindi all visited the Junior School to kick off Term 2.
Momentum is building for the refurbishment of Barbara Sutton Hall, with the head contractor now appointed.
