In any given week at Camberwell Girls, there is always a range of wonderful activities for our students to participate in, and the last two weeks has been no different! In the last fortnight, students have explored the theme of ‘Species Survival in Science Week and completed experiments such as testing the proteins in whale snot, to running, jumping and throwing their way to 4th place in the GSV Preliminary Athletics Carnival, and much more.
With so many curricular and co-curricular activities on offer, the shape of a student’s day can vary greatly as they pursue different interests and passions, and it’s the ability of the students to embrace these opportunities and change, that we greatly admire. No matter how big or small an opportunity is, we find that our students are always willing to try something or learn a new skill.
Whether it’s joining a club, participating in a sport, or taking on leadership roles, stepping out of their comfort zone and engaging with the opportunities around them allows students to set the foundation for personal growth and future success.
In this edition of CamNews, we look at a number of these opportunities both at the School and in our wider community, from students testing their skills at the Fuse Cup eSport tournament to connecting with experts to discuss future opportunities and career pathways. This variety in the student experience at Camberwell Girls highlights our students ongoing ability to embrace the opportunities around them, and we hope that you enjoy reading about these experiences.
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
Tom Clark
Head of Middle School
On Thursday 8 August we hosted our long-awaited Careers Evening You Can’t Be What You Can’t See in the Brooksbank Library. The event was created to offer students the opportunity to be inspired and empowered by our amazing school community, including valuable input from nine of our CGGS Old Grammarians and special guests.
An insightful Q&A panel was followed by open and organic round-table discussions with over 70 students from Years 10-12 coming together to ask questions, discover unique and diverse career pathways and network with people who have insights into industry processes.
From the fields of law and sport to health and defence, there was something for everyone to learn and to gain the support to achieve anything they feel passionate about in the future.
We are so grateful to all those involved in helping us plan and execute the evening into the success that it was – and a big thank you to our special guests and students who participated.
All in all, the night was a fabulous opportunity for students to reach out and discover where their post-CGGS lives may take them – we hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did.
Emily, Sara & Jess
School Captains
Our Camberwell Girls motto, Utilis in Ministerium, useful in service, is at the heart of who we strive to be and Year 12 student, Charlize Chow embodies this through her words and actions. On Thursday 8 August, Charlize spoke at the Zonta Club of Melbourne on Yarra Dinner where she was awarded the Young Women in Public Affairs Award 2024 by Calan Choke, Director of award sponsor, Calan Wealth Management. Charlize has already achieved much through her involvement in the Leos Club, school-based Service Learning programs and her interest in promoting equity and access for women and girls. She is also the recipient of the 2024-2025 Leo of the Year Award. Charlize spoke with passion about the associated challenges and opportunities which align with the underlying principles of the Zonta Club, which works closely with Camberwell Girls, and our responsibility to ensure action continues.
Zonta is an international network working collaboratively to make a difference in the lives of girls and women, one step at a time. To find out more about the international Zonta organisation and the Zonta Club of Melbourne on Yarra, click on the links below.
Zonta International https://www.zonta.org/
Zonta Club of Melbourne on Yarra https://zontamelbourneonyarra.org.au/wp1/
Dr Charlotte Forwood
Director of Learning Design and Development
On Wednesday 7 August, nine students from Camberwell Girls participated in a second online networking and cultural exchange experience with students from Nanyang Girls’ High School (NGHS) in Singapore.
The meeting provided an opportunity for students from both schools to build on the conversations from 21 May 2024, establishing clear goals and program ideas and activities for next year. With a focus on International Women’s Day and International Friendship Day in 2025, small group discussions focused on ways to connect over these two important international events, starting with a small touch point early next year, and moving to a whole school initiative in July.
At the conclusion of the meeting, each group presented a summary of their discussions, with students pitching big ideas such as collaborative fundraisers, an international concert, the exchange of cultural gifts, a possible pen-pal program, debating competition and Ted Talk Relays.
We look forward to our continued work with NGHS and to the evolution of our plans and activities in 2025 and beyond. I express my gratitude for the contributions of Ms. Wood, Ms. Friend, Mr Clark, and the participating Year 9, 10, and 11 students—Sophie P, Erin L, Chloe W, Megan A, Selina G, Sarah H, Naomi L, Lily M, Phoebe P.
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
During Week 4, four Year 7 students participated in the Mario Kart Fuse Cup eSports Competition at Melbourne Girls Grammar School. The competition began with 52 players competing in the Mushroom Cup Grand Prix heats, where the top two from each heat advanced to the time trials. The Camberwell Girls team made a strong showing, with Ellie, Sienna, and Claire each securing first place in their heats and advancing to the next round. Amelia faced tough competition, finishing 4th, but the team’s support for one another was evident throughout the event.
During the time trials, Ellie led the team with a strong time of 34.435, followed by Sienna with 34.783. Claire had a promising run but hit an obstacle, recording a best time of 36.464. Amelia, competing in the second chance trials, posted a time of 37.287. Claire and Amelia just missed qualifying, while Ellie and Sienna progressed to the quarterfinals.
Ellie continued her impressive performance by securing 2nd place in the quarterfinals, advancing to the semi-finals. Sienna narrowly missed a spot in the semi-finals by just 3 points. Ellie’s semi-final was thrilling, and her victory in the final race earned her a place in the Camberwell Girls first-ever Mario Kart Grand Final.
The Grand Final featured four intense races. Ellie started strong, winning the first race, and finished 3rd in the next two races, entering the final race in 2nd place, just 5 points behind the leader. She finished 4th the final race, giving her a total of 44 points and securing the runner-up position, marking our best result in the Mario Kart Fuse Cup Competition.
Team: Ellie T, Sienna J, Amelia A, Claire N, Aaratrika K (reserve), Clarissa C (reserve)
Staff: Mr Sam Fitzgerald and Mr Mark Major.
Congratulations to Elise O, Ellie Y, Cleo S, Zoe Z and Adrina R who were selected from Year 7 and Year 9 to participate in the Association of German Teachers of Victoria (AGTV) German Regional Poetry Competition at Scotch College this year.
After many hours of refining their proficiency in pronunciation and intonation and memorising their lines, they presented their individual poems to the judges. They all performed at a very high level, with special mention going to Adrina who received 3rd place for her poem Die Kleine Fußballmannschaft.
Reflecting on the value of reciting poems in a foreign language, it becomes clear that poetry is not just beautiful words on paper; it is also a fantastic resource through which students improve their pronunciation and range of vocabulary, boost their critical thinking skills, creativity and motivation to learn. This is what our students had to say:
It was fun and interesting to work alongside my teachers to perfect my presentation and I enjoyed it a lot. Throughout this experience, I learnt a lot more about the concept of German poetry and I feel that my pronunciation has also improved by a lot. Adrina
The poem I chose was Verbunden by Wolfgang Tribukait. This is a modern interpretation of a very famous old German poem, and it was wonderful to compare the two whilst practicing. On the day we were welcomed by the other schools and were able to discuss the difference in our German classes and our schools’ culture. Ultimately, this experience was extremely beneficial for our listening, pronunciation, and confidence. Elise
This was a great experience. Despite not winning I gained a lot. The poem ‘Die Monate’ was a reflection on several events going on throughout the seasons in Germany. Taking part provided me with insight into the German culture and also tested my courage and determination. Zoe
Ingrid Beck
German Teacher
“Embrace Sanctuary” are a local organisation who seek to empower people to welcome refugee and asylum seekers into their neighbourhood. This term, we were privileged to have Naomi Chua, CEO, and Nadia, a refugee from Iran, to speak at both Years 7-9 and Years 10-12 Chaplain’s Assembly.
As well as providing practical support, “Embrace” also have a “Lived Experience Library,” offering schools and other organisations the opportunity to hear from those who have needed to seek refuge in Australia. Nadia spoke with great hope about her new life in Australia, and particularly how she learnt to swim here. This experience led her to become a swimming teacher, focusing on teaching those who have not yet mastered English.
A Year 9 student reflecting on the presentation said, “I highly recommend Embrace Sanctuary as they are an organisation supporting refugees fleeing their home countries. I was privileged to listen to their story at a school presentation, which gave us an insight to the amazing cause they fulfil”.
If you would like to find out more about Embrace Sanctuary, please go to Embrace Sanctuary
Reverend Helen Creed
School Chaplain
On Saturday 10 August, Camberwell Grammar School (Boys) held a Year 9 Social for Camberwell Girls, Strathcona and Fintona. The night was filled with fun and enjoyment as we made new friends with people from different schools.
A fantastic DJ played popular songs that got us singing and dancing all night and a photo booth with props provided much laughter and if that wasn’t your thing there were chess tables throughout the room. Overall, we had an amazing night and cannot wait for the next event held with these schools.
Alex K, 9A
Poppy T, 9C
Phoebe S, 9C
Last Thursday 8 August, four students from Years 9 to 11 attended a student lead forum focusing on embracing and promoting inclusive environments in schools. The program, held at Mentone Girls Grammar School, involved discussions that gave us a new level of understanding of student experience, and the challenges of fostering change and creating safe spaces for all members of our respective school communities, especially young LGBTQIA+ people.
The day began with a talk from Sally Goldner AM, the founder of Transgender Australia. She shared her journey as a transgender woman growing up in an all-boys school and how, as society’s understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues and perspectives evolved, she became more comfortable with her identity.
After Sally’s speech, we participated in student-led discussions about the importance of Pride clubs and allyship. Later, we gathered in the Rose Courtyard to meet other students, share ideas, and discuss the different cultures in our schools. We then participated in an open conversation about embracing change, with CGGS’s Ash W contributing as a panel member as part of the informative discussion.
The experiences we gained at this conference are valuable to us as we continue to advocate for positive change in our communities. We are grateful to staff like Ms. Woolcock for supporting our participation in such forums and we encourage others who are interested to get involved and take positive action.
Ash W, Anais P, Sophie P and Elise O
