Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This term has been filled with many remarkable achievements and inspiring initiatives that have enriched our school community.  I am delighted to share some of these with you.

• The launch of the Inform, Ignite, and Inspire masterclass series for Senior School students in the Upskill program has provided incredible extension opportunities. Welcoming PhD students, industry professionals, and alums has cemented the connection between classroom learning and the real world.
  
  
• Through our ‘Intentional Use of Technology’ focus, the Year 10 students undertook a C.A.R.E.S. program delivered by the Cyber Safety Project. This project aims to empower individuals to navigate their own digital safety as well as support their peers.
  
  
• A number of our Year 10 students embarked on a HEXcursion to the Wade Institute of the University of Melbourne, completing their first HEX@CGGS Module for the year as part of the Upskill program. This excursion was a valuable experience, bridging academic learning with practical application.
  
  
• The Year 7 Invent…BY Design Upskill Program introduced students to the design thinking process by exploring the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  
  
• The Da Vinci Decathlon State Finals saw our Year 6 team place 2nd and win the Engineering and English sections, while our Year 5 team won the Code Breaking and Art and Poetry sections.
  
  
• The continuation of the Wurundjeri Language program across Junior School has been a highlight. Welcome to Country smoking ceremonies, learning songs and dances, and embedding language learning into everyday greetings have enriched students’ understanding of indigenous culture. The program’s impact was evident as students regularly greeted each other and their teachers with terms like “Gudjinna, Burndap Barring! (Hello, Good Morning!)”.
  
  
• Our Year 5 tour guides conducted their first School tours with enthusiasm, confidence and competence. Prospective families commented on how impressed they were by the quality of the tours and our student tour leaders. The Mountfield Maestros Music Concert was another wonderful event, celebrating students’ hard work and high-calibre musical performances for their peers and families.
  
  
• Parent Education Seminars have been inspiring, featuring topics such as teenagers, alcohol and other drugs, cyber safety, and growing curious and creative mindsets in children.
  
  
• Grandparents & Special Friends Day at Ormiston was a heartwarming event, with visitors participating in indoor and outdoor activities that promoted a connected school community. The highlight was students singing with their grandparents and special friends in the Junior School Hall.
  
  
• The Senior Hockey team won the GSV Senior Hockey B Division Premiership, defeating the first-placed school in a come-from-behind Semi-Final victory and winning the Grand Final comfortably. Additionally, five students were selected for GSV Representative Teams in hockey, soccer, tennis and volleyball.
  
  
• House events and competitions have been vibrant this term, including House Athletics, Cross Country, Debating, Readers Cup, Cinema Filming, and Music rehearsals. The Year 10 Work Experience program was a huge success, with 100% of students completing placements, some even taking on more than one. Celebrating Diversity Week showcased student-led initiatives, highlighting the excellent work happening in our Makerspace and Wellbeing Committee.
  
  
• Our ongoing international collaboration with Nanyang Girls’ High School in Singapore will be highlighted in early Term 3, with students working on a live combined celebration.
  
  
• Year 9 Camp provided students with the opportunity to connect and challenge themselves in the great outdoors, with a focus on choice and student voice. National Reconciliation Week was filled with activities and learnings about First Nations peoples, culture, and history, with a particular highlight being the Assembly with Murrundindi.
  
  
• The House Drama and Tech Captains embraced the challenges of converting their live performance event into a short film competition, showcasing their skills and creativity, which we will view in Term 3.
  
  
• The commencement of the Barbara Sutton Hall renovations with our initial Groundbreaking Ceremony has been welcomed, and we look forward to sharing the progress with families. The relocation of Music teaching and rehearsal spaces has been successful, with staff and students embracing the new spaces.
  
  
• The European Music Tour, a major highlight of the year, celebrated the school’s 105th year with a farewell concert at St. Mark’s Church. We are excited to hear about their performances and workshops over the coming weeks. In the meantime, please click here to enjoy this beautiful recording of our European Choir Tour rehearsing the Camberwell Girls Anthem at St Peter’s Church in Salzburg!
  
  
• Camberwell Girls’ rich 105-year legacy brought together current parents, alum and staff to our Gala Ball. As guests walked down the long entryway at Leonda by the Yarra, they were greeted by the dulcet tones of the Camberwell Girls Jazz Band. The AV presentation on the history of Camberwell Girls, structured by decade and voiced by Year 6 student Emma Z was well received. The evening was a joyful celebration of 105 years of spirit, connection and community.
  
  
• The Generations Breakfast celebrated intergenerational relationships, reminding us of the living thread that binds generations together in shared memory, values, and hope. Our much-loved Mother’s Day Breakfast was held at the historic Hawthorn Town Hall and was enjoyed by over 150 guests.
  
  
• With ‘Letters’ as the theme for this year’s PFA Trivia Night, each table chose a letter – and embraced the challenge – arriving in imaginative costumes and adorning their tables with creative flair. Our Trivia Master kept the pace lively and the competition close – particularly between the Staff ‘Tradies’ and the Parent ‘Where’s Wally?’ teams. Trivia Night brought the Camberwell Girls community together for an evening of fun and friendly rivalry.
  
  
• The launch of the new 2026 Japan tour after a nine-month research and development period is a significant milestone. Our school will be the only school worldwide to work on a novel and bespoke Disaster and Sustainability project in Fukushima. This unique tour is designed to meet our specific context and needs, offering an unparalleled learning experience.
  
  

With a very full and exciting term behind us, I hope that students and families enjoy a different pace over the holidays and time together. I look forward to welcoming students back to Term 3 on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

With best wishes,
Debbie Dunwoody
Principal