The commencement of Term 4 always marks the beginning of significant educational milestones and the celebrations that accompany these – from our Year 12 students completing secondary education to the orientation and transition programs for new and continuing students later in the term.
Many of our Year 12 students dedicated time during the holidays to revision and completing trial exams. They are preparing well for their upcoming examinations, and I extend my gratitude to all the teachers for their ongoing support and care for our Year 12 students through the years. The education provided at Camberwell Girls transcends academics; it is an education for life, encouraging students to value learning opportunities and make meaningful contributions to communities, thereby enhancing the lives of others.
In the coming weeks, we will celebrate our students’ academic and co-curricular achievements. This is an opportunity to enjoy key highlights from the 2024 school year during events such as the Years 10-12 Presentation Evening, Leavers’ Service and Valedictory Dinner.
Our Year 12 students have been exceptional participants and leaders in school life this year. Led by School Captains Emily P, Sara R and Jessica T, our School Captains have guided with grace, integrity and enthusiasm, seizing opportunities to appreciate the people and experiences at Camberwell Girls. I thank them for their leadership, dedication and commitment throughout the year. It has truly been a privilege to work closely with them.
Last night we held the opening of our VCE Art and Design Exhibition, the first of our VCE Celebrations. Exhibitions and performances are special, particularly when they are focused on original compositions as these speak to an individual’s thoughts, feelings and ideas in how they respond to stimulus and the world. We also saw evidence of this in our Ormiston Art Show at the end of Term 3 with the incredible artwork from our Early Learning through to Year 6 students.
Lilian Bishop, our Junior School Art teacher, commented that in the early years of education, art is a visual language through which young children can share their understanding of the world, their learning, ideas and creativity. She also noted that the learning and skills developed and encouraged in Junior School Art lessons are transferable to other areas of schooling and life including problem-solving, creativity, communication, time management, research skills, critical thinking and self-reflection. Art also highlights inclusivity as students learn and discuss art from other cultures. For Lilian, the Ormiston Art Show which featured a variety of art mediums, was a representation and celebration of the art and learning of all students.
Similarly, Rachael Miller, our Head of Art and Design for Years 7 to 12, commented on the importance of exhibiting student work (such as the VCE Art and Design Exhibition), helping students to build their confidence as they take pride in their accomplishments and learn how to communicate their ideas to different audiences. In preparing their work, students received feedback enabling them to gain different perspectives about their practice and the opportunity to refine skills, as well as develop an understanding of the curation of exhibitions and interacting with their audience.
Rachael is also very focused on reasons why art education is so relevant in contemporary education today. She emphasises the opportunities to foster critical thinking and creativity, cultural awareness through the exploration of diverse cultures, histories and experiences, communication skills, the practice being an outlet for self-expression and emotional release and the development of skills to enhance other careers that value creativity and design thinking.
“Art is not just a mirror of the world, but a way of acting upon the world, of creating, critiquing and reimagining it.” – Project Zero, Harvard University.
In helping to make sense of the world and in connecting to many new opportunities, art education is a valuable part of a quality education. At Camberwell Girls, we are grateful for our dedicated art and design teachers and for the work that students of all ages have shared with us in recent months.
With best wishes,
Debbie Dunwoody
