As the academic year draws to a close, we are pleased to share the final edition of CamNews for 2024.
Today, we farewelled our Years 10 and 11 students, who, over the past few weeks have been actively engaged in their end-of-year examinations and Headstart. These important programs help to prepare them for the next stage of their VCE journey. As they look to embrace the challenges and opportunities of the coming year, we encourage them to use the holiday period to rest, recharge and return refreshed and ready to achieve their best.
For our Years 7, 8, and 9 students, the coming days hold exciting end-of-year events, including the Years 7-9 Presentation Assembly, transition sessions, and final activities and gatherings. These moments are not only celebrations of achievement but also opportunities to reflect on our students’ remarkable growth and development throughout the year. They also allow us to express heartfelt gratitude to the many individuals who have supported them along the way.
On behalf of the Camberwell Girls Grammar School community, we extend our deepest thanks to our staff for their unwavering dedication and passion for our students in the Secondary School. Their care, guidance, and expertise continue to inspire and empower our students each and every day. We also thank our parents and guardians for their support and collaboration in fostering their children’s growth and wellbeing. This strong partnership in learning is vital to our shared success, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration in 2025.
As we look ahead to the festive season, we wish all families a safe, healthy, and joyful holiday. May this be a time of rest and togetherness with those you cherish most. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you back in 2025 for another exciting and inspiring year at Camberwell Girls Grammar School.
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
Tom Clark
Head of Middle School
During a formal assembly on Tuesday 3 December, our school leaders, those elected to formal leadership positions and our soon-to-be Year 12 students, were formally inducted as leaders of Camberwell Girls in 2025.
While most leadership positions were announced at an assembly earlier in the term, we have had several students join the Student Leadership Team since then and were able to congratulate them during this occasion.
The Leaders’ Service officially marks the commencement of a personal and collective journey of growth, impact, and service. As students responded to the Leadership Oath presented by Mrs Dunwoody and Reverend Helen Creed, they acknowledged and committed to the responsibilities entrusted to them and were encouraged to embrace the opportunities presented with curious minds, seeking to learn from those around them.
Opening the service, 2024 School Captain, Abigail L encouraged each leader to seek support from one another, communicate openly, and collaborate tirelessly. She reflected on the joy she felt in being able to share their journey and shared her excitement for the year ahead.
Mrs Davina McClure, Deputy Principal, also shared her insights on leadership by reflecting on those that inspire her, and her own leadership journey. She offered valuable advice to the students as they prepare to leave their legacy on the School. She emphasised the importance of building trust, modelling respect, and encouraging positive interactions and we look forward to seeing our students exemplify these values throughout 2025.
The final school event of the year was the House Swimming and Sports Carnival which was held onsite at CGGS.
The days program included Swimming, Netball, Volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee and a House ‘Taskmaster’ Challenge. In their year levels, students rotated around all 5 activities throughout the day, with all sports having fixtures, ladders and points awarded for wins, draws and losses. With fierce competition being matched with equally spirited chanting and cheering, the students are to be congratulated on giving their all.
During the House Challenge, students filmed chants, hunted for ducks, made house supporter signs and created land based swimming videos. The House signs made an appearance in BSH for the presentation of results and added a vibrant and visual display of colour and themes.
The winners of each sport and the overall winner are listed below.
Volleyball Results
4th Schofield 50 points
3rd Singleton 53 points
2nd Taylor 58 points
1st Lawrence 59 points
Netball Results
4th Schofield 42 points
3rd Taylor 58 points
2nd Lawrence 59 points
1st Singleton 60 points
Ultimate Frisbee
4th Lawrence 25 points
3rd Taylor 27 points
2nd Singleton 28 points
1st Schofield 32 points
OVERALL SPORTS CARNIVAL RESULTS
4th Schofield
3rd Singleton
1st Lawrence & Taylor
The swimming carnival was run with a full suite of events, including 50m and 25m races of all strokes, with the very popular novelty relays breaking up the program. Some ingenious spoon holding in the egg and spoon relays ensured success, alongside the board and life jacket events. Year 11 students added their own impromptu handstand competition, with the inaugural winner being Angela L. The final event on the program was the Year level synchronised jump in the pool, with all students, including those fully dressed, taking the plunge.
Congratulations to everyone on their engagement and enthusiasm throughout the day, and a special shout out to the House Sport Captains, School Sport Captain and School House Captain for their enormous efforts both in preparation and on the day.
In an incredibly tight competition, the eventual winner of the Swimming Carnival was Schofield who also took out the coveted Spirit stick award.
SWIMMING RESULTS
4th Taylor 186 points
3rd Singleton 213 points
2nd Lawrence 220 points
1st Schofield 223 points
It was a wonderful way to finish the year, and my thanks to the Friends of Sport for providing a BBQ lunch option for students and staff who assisted in the smooth running of the day. It has been a wonderful year of House sport at CGGS and we look forward to what the new year brings.
Nareen Robinson
Head of Sport
The Music Department is delighted to share the news that Elise F recently participated in the piano section of the prestigious Charleston International Music Competition and was awarded a second place prize in her age-group.
The Charleston International Music Competition acknowledges and awards emerging musical excellence and nurtures global artistic connections for the award recipients. The world-wide competition was adjudicated online by a panel of expert music educators and specialist performers.
Elise was awarded her prize amongst a range of students in her age group from around the world. She performed her selected work (Intermezzo in A Major No. 2 from Clavierstücke by Johannes Brahms) with a high level of technical skill and expressive qualities and was awarded her prize for an artistically musical presentation.
Congratulations Elise, on an outstanding result. We wish you further success and joy in your music studies.
Kate Savige & Rohan Mack
Directors of Music
This semester, eleven intrepid Year 10 students dove deep into the wonders of Marine Science, exploring the diverse marine life from all around Australia. From the coral reefs to coastlines, they learned about the challenges facing our oceans, particularly the impacts of climate change and human activity on marine ecosystems. The students were not just passive learners, they actively participated in our fundraising efforts for the Port Phillip Eco Centre. Through their hard work, they raised an impressive $1250, which was proudly presented to the Eco Centre, supporting their vital conservation initiatives.
One of the semester’s highlights was investigating brine shrimp and studying the effect of temperature on their hatching rates. The students’ hands-on approach in the lab prompted a wave of success, building their key Science skills while learning more about marine life.
Term Four saw the students turn their creativity into action, using the MakerSpace to design textiles, board games, picture storybooks, and even giant scientific education displays, complete with motion sensors and Arduinos. These projects were a fantastic way for them to share their newfound knowledge with the wider community.
The cherry on top of the semester was our trip to Sorrento. After a weather setback cut short our first excursion, the students were undeterred and returned on 28 November, greeted by sunny skies. They swam with Australian fur seals and chatted to the Gannets followed by cruising the bay to see enormous stingrays—experiences that showcased the beauty and biodiversity of Port Phillip Bay, home to more endemic species than the Great Barrier Reef.
Eleanor Wood
Director of Co-curricular Programs
Science Teacher
The impact of climate change is not new, nor the knowledge that sea levels are rising, however a group of our Year 8 students recently had the opportunity to influence global policy through involvement in a design challenge hosted by Mount Scopus Memorial College. Students worked in interschool teams to design a City on the Sea as they explored the concept of sustainable cities.
Dr Dianne McGrath, environmental engineer, explorer and sustainability expert, provided key insights into the challenges associated with living in a world impacted by climate change. A panel of experts joined her to provide feedback and specialist information within the design process. Designs incorporated features to mitigate rising sea levels, multiple sources of renewable energy, ways to support diverse communities and food production self-sufficiency. Dr McGrath, who is currently writing a paper for the OECD, will use the students’ ideas to guide some of the recommendations – a great example of authentic learning.
Dr Charlotte Forwood
Director of Learning Design and Development
During Upskill on 5 December, Year 7 students worked in teams to compete in a Maths measuring race. The ‘VERI Spatial Challenge’ involved inspecting and measuring dimensions to calculate areas and perimeters of different spaces around the School, including the ‘walk of the Labyrinth’, the tennis courts and the tricky shape of the grassed area of the sports field.
Together, groups had to be strategic in collecting data as accurately and quickly as they could and calculating perimeters and areas. They also had to work out how to maximise their points by considering how to wisely use their tokens to ‘purchase’ a range of low-tech tools, including the ‘free use’ of their feet, string, and a range of measuring tapes.
The competition was co-designed by Maths guru’s Mr Loff and Mr Ren, along with our partners at Veris. The key intention was for Year 7s to experience some real-life applications of Maths in a fun way. Students got a glimpse of how important measurements are in the geospatial industry, with specific instructions, messages and videos from Veris, including how they would do it.
Prizes will be announced as soon as results are determined.
Karoline Walter
Head of Geography
On Thursday 28 November, all Year 8 students took part in the CGGS Annual Djirra Hamper Drive. Across the morning, students learned about the incredible work Djirra do in the community, whilst decorating and packing Christmas hampers with a selection of donated non-perishable items.
Djirra is a place where culture is shared and celebrated, and where culturally safe support and resources are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, particularly those who have experienced family violence. The hamper drive aims to deliver food hampers to First Nations women across Melbourne and regional Victoria who are doing it tough this Christmas, to support them and their children as they show strength and resilience moving forward from challenging and difficult family situations.
A Woi Wurrung word, Djirra is the reed used by Wurundjeri women for basket weaving. When Wurundjeri women gathered together to weave, important talks took place, stories were shared, and problems were solved. Djirrasymbolises Aboriginal women today, still coming together to share stories, support each other and find solutions.
A truly wonderful morning, it was a joy to witness the level of care, thoughtfulness and creativity each of the groups put in to designing, constructing and packing their hampers.
Georgia Biggs
Head of Service Learning
On Thursday 28 November, the CGGS Junior Cricket team (B-Grade) competed in the GSV Junior Cricket Grand Final at Basil Reserve, Malvern. During the home and away season, the team had won every game they played. They finished up as Zone winners in their division and progressed to the Grand Final to compete against Genazzano. It was a close-fought match, with both teams consisting of strong players, but a fantastic bowling and fielding innings saw CGGS take control of the match. With the batting line-up playing in a calm and controlled manner, CGGS were able to keep the scoreboard ticking over without losing too many wickets and they ended up winning 135-111 to be crowned Junior B Premiers.
Well done to all players on a fantastic season.
Liza Stevens
GSV Junior Cricket Coach
