Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The beginning of the school year arrives with the excitement of new opportunities and developing or establishing new friendships. This is the case for parents as well as students.

Connecting through information nights or social events is a very important way for parents to extend their networks and to understand the priorities and operations of the school. This year we have already held a number of significant events for families including the Year 7 Church Service and Dinner, ‘Meet the Teacher’ evenings and we are looking forward to the Junior School Picnic tonight. 

A couple of weeks ago our Parents and Friends Association (PFA) hosted their Welcome Evening. This was a fabulous evening with over 330 parents attending on a balmy summer evening. The timing was perfect to acknowledge Chinese New Year and we were all entertained by a very colourful and vibrant Lion Dance. These events are very memorable, and I hope that many families have already bookmarked our Moonlight Movie Night on Saturday 16 March.

Year level events have also commenced in recent weeks.  Year Level Representatives have organised or run events for parents to gather socially and I thank them for their work in connecting families, which in turn supports the students.

I am aware that some of our international families also benefit from additional assistance with understanding education, school operations and how to become more involved with the school. Our International Student Coordinator, Barbara Peng (pengb@cggs.vic.edu.au), provides this support to families.

The International Student Coordinator is an essential support to students and parents engaged in the International Student Program as well as those with an international background, ensuring diverse members of the community have an enriching educational experience while enrolled at CGGS. Operating across Early Learning to Year 12, the coordinator offers assistance in terms of learning, wellbeing, and compliance with regulatory requirements for international students.  

As a crucial link, the International Student Coordinator establishes and maintains connections between students, families, homestay providers, the designated support person and CGGS staff. They also design programs and forums for parents and guardians to foster a sense of connection and belonging within the school community as well as educating on key school systems, structures, events, and other essential requirements. Past workshop topics have covered a range of subjects, from navigating the school diary to understanding school reports, VCE Protocols, MyCGGS, Tertiary Pathways, and co-curricular programs.  

During 2024 there is an exciting program of workshops and activities being developed. These include opportunities for parents to connect with others from diverse language backgrounds as well as opportunities to actively participate and volunteer at school and House events. Barbara is organising forums that will address elective programs, subject selection processes, school uniform considerations and effective school communication pathways. These will be advertised in the Weeklies.

If you would like to know more about how to be involved in the school, please contact your child’s Head of School or Sarah Galati from the Community Engagement Office (galatis@cggs.vic.edu.au).

I look forward to seeing you at our school events.

With best wishes,

Debbie Dunwoody
Principal