Mrs Dunwoody reflects on today's reopening ceremony and shares some important news with the community.
Welcome to the first edition of CamNews for Term Three, we hope that all members of our school community enjoyed a restful and relaxing break.
Today, we celebrated the official re-opening of Barbara Sutton Hall, following a 12-month refurbishment process, with our Chair of Council – Dr Nikita Weickhardt and Principal – Mrs Debbie Dunwoody, cutting the ribbon and declaring the space open and ready for use. Thank you to all involved in this very special event and to our community for their support throughout this important project.
Looking ahead, there is much to look forward to this term. This evening, participating Senior School students will brave the winter cold as part of the annual Winter Sleep Out, a Service Learning initiative that raises awareness for those who are currently unhoused or sleeping rough. This term, students will also participate in Year 8 Camp, the House Readers Cup, National Science Week, CamberWELL/Book Week celebrations, alongside a wide range of co-curricular opportunities, including GSV sport.
As always, families play a vital role in supporting student learning and wellbeing and work in partnership with our staff. The myCGGS portal remains the central hub for subject information, assessment tasks and teacher feedback, and we encourage families to engage with it regularly. Learning Conversations will provide another opportunity to connect with and discuss your child’s progress, with sessions held during a twilight session on Monday 10 August and throughout Tuesday 11 August.
We look forward to sharing highlights and achievements with you throughout the term via CamNews and wish everyone a great start to Term Three.
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
Tom Clark
Head of Middle School
On Tuesday 14 July, as we welcomed back our Years 7 –12 students, each year level was invited to have a first look at the reimaged Barbara Sutton Hall. Students spent time hearing about the design process, the choice of materials and were able to explore the different spaces, and several students have shared their reflections below.
As I entered the new Barbara Sutton Hall for the first time, I was immediately struck by how spacious, modern and versatile the space felt. It was easy to imagine the endless possibilities this space could be used for, from assemblies, house performances and school events.
As the tour begun, I was impressed to hear the thought and care that was put into many aspects of the design features. Learning about the inspiration for the hall, from the carpet representing shifting sands to the shining stars above the stage and a gold detail wall representing waves, gave me greater appreciation for every element of this build.
After seeing the Hall and learning about its design, it was clear Barbara Sutton Hall is much more than just a new building. It’s a thoughtfully designed space which reflects the School, while also providing a welcoming space for us students to create memories, come together and celebrate past, present and future achievements for years to come.
Ava O (Year 9)
Everyone was buzzing with excitement as they walked into the new Barbara Sutton Hall. The modern design immediately stood out, and it was amazing to see how significantly our hall had transformed over the past year.
From the carefully chosen colours and patterns to the unique details throughout the space, it was clear that a lot of thought had gone into creating a hall that reflects both the School’s identity and its surroundings.
After visiting Barbara Sutton Hall, I left with a greater appreciation for what it represents. It is not only a modern and functional space but also a place where students can connect, celebrate achievements and create lasting memories. I believe it will become an important part of the school for many years to come.
Nawita D (Year 9)
Recently we got the exciting opportunity to see the highly anticipated renovation of the Barbara Sutton Hall. The designs imitating nature were beautiful, such as the shifting sand carpet and the dark night sky in the hall. I loved the stars in the roof, and I thought it made it very magical. I am very excited to use the new dressing rooms behind the stage as there is a lot more room. I can’t wait to see it in use!
Mabel C (Year 10)
Walking into Barbara Sutton Hall for the first time, I was struck by how spacious and luxurious it felt. The bright, modern design created an atmosphere that was both professional and inviting. I especially loved the use of the moving sand design on the carpet throughout the space, which seemed to symbolise movement and warmth. It was amazing to see the long-awaited building finally come to life and to see the whole space utilised so well. Imagining the many students who will gather there left me feeling excited to be part of the events and experiences that will take place in the year ahead.
Alisha A (Year 11)
The new opening of the Barbara Sutton Hall is a long-awaited event, and luckily enough the students were granted an opportunity to premiere it early. The new hall holds a warm ambience that the previous hall didn’t have whilst maintaining the long-standing significance of the building. Through the warm lights, carpeting choices, and materials used, the new building pays homage to what the School comes from whilst giving it a modern touch. I personally appreciate the ambience when entering the new Hall and the new rooms, such as the makeup room which put many of the Year 12s to 10s in an awestruck state. Moreover, I admire that old hall placard was maintained and placed in front of the auditorium. I think the new Barbara Sutton Hall will be great addition to our school and community, the renovations will allow for students to better use the space more relevantly, however the history that is maintained through the building are what truly make the new Barbara Sutton Hall ours.
Valerie K (Year 11)
On the first day back in Term 3, the Year 12 students were given the opportunity to have an initial walkthrough of the reimagined Barbara Sutton Hall building. We explored both the auditorium and stage, as well as design studios and music rooms. Each space was modern and inviting, with the design being visually appealing and sleek, whilst still being purpose built, containing all aspects for student learning, play, and showcase. A highlight of ours was entering the Hall auditorium and gazing up, where we were met with beautiful twinkling stars embedded into the ceiling, embracing our connection to land and sky. It will be great to continue exploring the space, and we can already visualise it filled with students’ creativity. We are so excited to begin to celebrate in the new and refurbished space, and to share it with our community.
Spencer P and Audrey K (Year 12)
After weeks of planning, organising, and trying to convince ourselves that everything would run smoothly, the Year 10 Trivia afternoon finally arrived. As SRC representatives, we had the opportunity to bring the event to life and create an afternoon where the whole year level could relax, have fun and celebrate the beginning of Semester Two.
The concept was simple: each group would create their own unique trivia round on a topic they were passionate about. However, the creativity that followed was anything but basic. From Shrek and Minecraft, to space, sporting legends and even Justin Bieber, every team brought their own unique personality to their questions. We encouraged groups to dress up and match their themes, adding more excitement and making the afternoon feel like a mini festival.
Of course, no event is complete without a few unexpected challenges. Throughout the afternoon, there were small issues, but with a bit of teamwork and some last-minute problem solving, we were able to keep everything running smoothly.
To add to the fun, we dressed up as our Year Level Coordinator, complete with beautiful plaid pants and his signature knits, and attempted to entertain everyone with jokes between each round.
Overall, the Trivia Afternoon was a fantastic celebration of the Year 10 cohort’s creativity, teamwork and sense of humour. A huge thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the event such a memorable success.
Carissa L and Ann B (Year 10)
The commencement of Term 3 marks the beginning of another exciting season of GSV Sport with students representing the School across a variety of sports, including Indoor Cricket, Badminton, Soccer, Water Polo and Athletics. Participation in these programs provides students with valuable opportunities to represent Camberwell Girls as well as developing their skills, teamwork and game knowledge while also enjoying the many physical and mental wellbeing benefits of physical activity.
The athletics season is also underway, with students attending morning training session at Camberwell Girls every Wednesday and Friday from 7.00am. The athletics program offers students of all abilities the opportunity to participate, improve and challenge themselves in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Under the guidance of the experienced coaches from Elite Wellbeing, students have embraced training with enthusiasm and commitment. We look forward to seeing athletes continue to develop their confidence, achieve personal bests and represent Camberwell Girls with pride throughout the season.
Our swimming camp has come to a successful end, leaving our athletes with greater confidence and lasting memories.
Throughout the camp our swimmers focused on improving their technique, speed and the overall endurance and fitness through the week of hard training. With guidance from our coaching team, each swimmer challenged themselves, celebrated personal achievements, and supported one another every step of the way.
Beyond developing new skills and working on technique, our athletes also had an opportunity to enjoy some of the best activities Gold Coast has to offer. It was great to see our team grow closer together and have fun.
We extend our gratitude to our parents and coaches for their support and commitment, which made this camp a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Congratulations to all our swimmers for their hard work and enthusiasm. We hope the skills, friendship and confidence gained during the camp will inspire them to continue to work hard.
With several upcoming targeted events, EDA SC meet (19 July) and Firbank SC meet (16 August) we would like to wish our swimmers the best of luck, and we hope to see them qualify for Victorian Age and Open championships that will be held at MSAC in September.
Lauren Law
Director of Sport
Mrs Dunwoody reflects on today's reopening ceremony and shares some important news with the community.
The Secondary School students had an exciting start to the Term by stepping into the refurbished Barbara Sutton Hall for the first time.
The community came together at the end of the term to conduct mock job interviews with our Year 9 students.
