As we embark on a new term, we welcome back our students, staff and families after a well-deserved break. We hope that all members of our community were able to spend time resting, relaxing and enjoying the slower pace that comes with holidays.
While the weather may have been cold in our first week back, the atmosphere has been warm and filled with a sense of excitement at the varied opportunities, programs and events that await! These include GSV Athletics, The Little Mermaid Musical, Year 8 and 9 Camp, Upskill programs, the Year 11 Soiree, the FUSE Cup, National Science Week, CamberWELL/Book Week and many many more! We eagerly anticipate sharing these highlights with our families in our fortnightly edition of CamNews over the course of term.
To stay connected and informed about your child’s learning and progress there are numerous resources available. The myCGGS portal provides access to all subjects, as well as assessment tasks, feedback, and marks. Additionally, students and families will have the chance to meet with subject teachers as part of the Semester Two Learning Conversations for Years 7 – 9 on 13 August and Years 10 – 12 on 28 August and we encourage you to diarise these important discussions.
All the best for a wonderful term ahead.
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
Tom Clark
Head of Middle School
On Wednesday 17 July 2024, the Premier’s VCE Awards Ceremony was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Premier’s VCE Awards recognise the exceptional accomplishments of individual students and pays tribute to the principals, teachers and families who play a valuable role in supporting these students during their VCE studies.
We were delighted to celebrate three students from Camberwell Girls who were recognised at the Premier’s VCE Awards for their outstanding achievement in their Unit 3 and 4 VCE studies in 2023:
More than 1000 guests attended the prestigious ceremony, and it was a privilege for me, Mrs Maria Litchfield and Ms Karoline Walter to celebrate alongside the students and their families. Congratulations again to Xinning, May and Natalie for this outstanding achievement.
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
It was with great excitement we officially launched our 2024 GSV Athletics Season and introduced the new head coaches to our students.
We are thrilled to have four-time Olympian Craig Mottram as our Head Coach. Craig represented Australia in consecutive Olympic games from Sydney 2000 to London in 2012, was a World Championships Bronze Medallist and a Silver Medallist at the Commonwealth Games in middle distance events.
Kelly Peel is the Program Manager. She is also an Australian middle-distance runner who competed in the 800 metres at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow and won a Bronze Medal in the 4×800 m event at the 2015 World Relay Championships.
We have been building a strong athletics program and culture over the last 5 years, and as we strive to achieve consistent and improved results at the GSV Carnivals, we couldn’t be more fortunate to have this level of expertise guiding our students and staff towards this goal.
Despite the damp and cold conditions on Wednesday morning, 38 Secondary School students attended the first training. With a range of specialist coaches, the session included middle distance, sprints and throws, with students eager to demonstrate their skills and be given targeted feedback and technique training.
Nareen Robinson
Head of Sport
During the Term Two holidays, two Year 10 students from CGGS took part in a STEM Invitation Event at Strathcona Girls Grammar School. To be selected to represent Camberwell Girls, the students wrote an expression of interest outlining why they were interested in attending the event. On the day, the CGGS students learnt how to code using the programming language Python and then worked alongside like-minded students from other schools in Victoria to choreograph a synchronised rover dance and fly a drone through an obstacle course.
“The STEM event was a very insightful and enjoyable day and provided me with the experience to learn to code drones and rovers using a CAS calculator. I especially enjoyed learning to code a drone as it was fun to fly and navigate the drone through multiple obstacles. I highly recommend this program for those who are interested in technology and STEM as it is a great way to develop your skills in technology, learn from experienced people within the field and build your network with likeminded people around you” – Sahana A
“The STEM event provided so many new learning opportunities amongst students, new networks with students from other schools. At this event I particularly enjoyed learning about new CAS functions, flying drones and coding the movements and functions of the rover. I would highly recommend this program for any students who have the opportunity to undertake it in the future” – Erika T
Debbie Henson
Head of Science
Recently, Jess Wilson, Member for Kew, called out to students in Years 5, 6 and 11 to participate in the Kew Future Leaders Speech Competition, based on the concept of “My First Speech to Parliament”. Jess invited students to focus on an issue, identify its cause and potential resolution, and assess how their suggestions would be in line with their core values and those of the community.
Our Year 11 student Angela L accepted this opportunity and presented her speech to Jess Wilson MP, at CGGS on Monday 24 June. Jess listened to our young and aspiring Year 5 and 6 students who spoke with much joy and hope. Following the junior students, Angela presented her speech to Jess and the audience including staff and Year 5 and 6 students. Angela’s speech focused on the role of our youth in the Kew community and how there could be more opportunities for our youth to give back. Her suggestions for our youth to be more involved in volunteering in a variety of ways resonated with her audience, her own anecdote about volunteering with St John’s First Aid Youth holding much currency and relevance. Angela also spoke passionately about the importance of protecting and supporting youths’ mental health programs.
Angela has now progressed to the next round and has been invited to the Parliament of Victoria to give her 3 minute speech on Monday 2 September. We wish her much luck in this exciting, next stage and look forward to sharing the outcome with you later in the year.
Tania Castauro
English Teacher
