Mrs Dunwoody shares a very special gift that the Art Department has presented to the School.
105 years young, full of energy, excitement and joy – this phrase captures the spirit of the School over the past fortnight. We’ve celebrated many significant achievements and milestones, whether in the classroom, exploring the great outdoors, or excelling on the sporting field. It has truly been a wonderful time in the life of our School.
On Tuesday, we came together at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark our 105th birthday with a special Founders’ Service. Students and staff reflected, with gratitude, on the vision and dedication of those who came before us—the pioneers who created a school rooted in faith, service and a commitment to providing high-quality educational opportunities for girls.
From our humble beginnings at St Mark’s Church in 1920, with just eight students enrolled in our inaugural year, to the thriving school we are today, educating over 800 students from ELC to Year 12 each year, we carry a legacy we’re confident our founders would be proud of.
Our School continues to thrive, brimming with opportunities, and the past two weeks have been no exception! Highlights included our student-led Celebrating Diversity Week and the memorable Year 9 Camp in Warburton.
We hope you enjoy this edition of CamNews, as we share and celebrate the many achievements of our vibrant fortnight.
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
Tom Clark
Head of Middle School
From the 12 to 16 May, Year 9 students participated in their annual Year Level Camp in Warbuton, Victoria. As a part of the camp’s design, students were able to select from a range of different trails, with each trail offering its own unique experience, level of challenge, comfort and adventure.
Students completed one of three different trails:
Despite their differences, the trails were united by a common experience, with each group having the opportunity to spend time with Murrundindi at Coranderrk. During this session they learnt about the rich indigenous history of the area and its significance to Murrundindi and the Wurundjeri people.
On the final day, in their camp groups, students presented their week of learning and activities through songs, dances or other Artistic mediums to the rest of the cohort. This is a connection to the song lines of Indigenous cultures and the culmination of a week of wonderful weather and stories.
Regardless of the adventure they chose, all students learnt something new, were challenged, engaged, and, most importantly, had fun!
Shane Maycock
Education Outdoor Coordinator
The Ignite Masterclass series has enabled our VCE Music students to employ techniques to convey performance conventions and utilise specific approaches to communicate artistic intent to an audience. We welcomed professional musicians and educators, Carrie Barr and Marianne Rothschild to the Music Department in Term One, where they worked with CGGS musicians to elevate their performances. During these sessions, students performed sections of their pieces and received artistic tips and recommendations to help refine performance skills and build confidence. Focus was placed on visualisation techniques to target performance anxiety, alongside breathing exercises and effective tools to implement during live performances.
Our students gained valuable insight into best practice for preparing repertoire, which supports their VCE Music studies and provides further enrichment for their development as musicians.
Kate Savige
Director of Music (Curriculum)
On Friday 9 May, students from Years 7 to 10 took part in the 131st annual Berthe Mouchette French Poetry Competition, proudly run by the Alliance Française. This prestigious event is a long-standing celebration of French language and culture, and this year’s theme: L’amour (Love), provided some heartfelt and expressive poems.
In the lead-up to the event, students diligently memorised their allocated French poems, perfecting their pronunciation, rhythm and delivery. On the day of the competition, they recited their poem to a French judge, demonstrating not just linguistic skill, but also poise and courage.
This competition is a much-loved tradition in our French program. It gives students an authentic and enriching experience of the language, while helping to build confidence and cultural appreciation. Bravo to all who took part! We await the results with anticipation.
Dr Jo Rittey
Head of Languages
The Units 3 and 4 Business Management class visited the Yakult Factory to witness firsthand a range of Operations Management strategies. This experience equipped students with a contemporary case study that can be referred to in their SAC and examination responses.
Nicole McKie
Year 11 Coordinator
Business Management and Commerce Teacher
Student Reflections
The excursion to the Yakult factory, provided an insightful and engaging opportunity for the Units 3 and 4 Business Management students to apply their Area of Study 3 knowledge to the real world. Being able to see the operations process occur in real time, allowed us to grasp the content better. Our tour guide had expert knowledge of the Business Management course and incorporated a lot of relevant terminology such as ‘Forecasting’ and ‘CAM’ during our tour of the factory. In addition, she remained engaging by asking questions and having us relate the content to the workplace, thereby enhancing our knowledge.
Samantha H – Year 12
After finishing Unit 3, all Business Management students, visited the Yakult factory to see an operations system in action – perfectly aligning with what we’d studied in AOS 3. We saw their inputs and processes, with impressive, automated machinery coordinating almost all their production. I was especially interested in their commitment to corporate social responsibility, such as offering free yearly hearing checks for staff working in loud environments. One of the highlights was trying a freshly made Yakult at the end of the tour. Overall, the visit was enjoyable and made our classroom learning feel more applicable.
Chloe S Year – 12
Last week, students had the unique opportunity to hear from Sarah Hui (Class of 2022), who returned to share her inspiring journey into the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine at Monash University.
Sarah’s session was both insightful and motivating, offering a firsthand look at what it takes to pursue Medicine straight out of high school. She spoke candidly about her experiences—from preparing for the UCAT and selecting her VCE subjects, to navigating the application process and adjusting to life as a medical student.
Some highlights from the session included:
Students left the session feeling better informed and inspired, with many commenting on how valuable it was to hear from someone who had recently been through the process.
A huge thank you to Sarah for generously sharing her time and insights—we wish her continued success in her studies and future career in Medicine!
Ashley Nguyen
Head of Careers Education
Hannah L (12B) has continued to develop her exceptional talent and skill as a French Horn specialist, through her association with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO). Hannah is a member of the Melbourne Youth Orchestra, a principal partner with the MSO, and was selected to participate in the recent Side By Side concert at Art Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall. The MSO Side by Side Education Program inspires the next generation of exceptional music students by providing opportunities for them to learn from world-class professional musicians and perform high-quality orchestral works. It was an amazing experience for Hannah to perform with the MSO horn section, alongside highly regarded professional musicians.
Kate Savige
Director of Music (Curriculum)
I had the incredible opportunity to perform the iconic repertoire of Jean Sibelius with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Northey. Mentored by Peter Luff and Abbey Edlin, I gained valuable insights into ensemble playing and utilised a range of techniques to further improve my French Horn playing. Of particular interest, was learning how to listen for the delay of sound and play just behind the beat of the conductor’s baton to blend better with the orchestra.
Hannah L (12B)
Celebrating Diversity Week is an opportunity for staff and students to participate in activities which support and celebrate inclusiveness and diversity. On Monday students were in the MakerSpace, creating infinity cubes or playing with the beautiful heart shaped fidget toys. The Fig Tree Café was a hive of activity on Wednesday as students and staff taught others’ words and phrases in eleven different languages including Auslan and Afrikaans. Thursday provided students with the opportunity to dance and express themselves through dance and movement in the silent disco. Celebrating Diversity Week also recognised and celebrated IDAHOBIT day on Fridaym with students and staff wearing free dress with a rainbow theme. They also had the opportunity to make pronoun badges in the MakerSpace. Many thanks to Dr Ellis for printing 100 heart shaped fidget toys and supporting the staff and students throughout the week. Thanks also to Ash L, Sophie P and the Wellbeing Committee for making the week such a success.
Kylie Rose
Wellbeing Committee Coordinator
Science Teacher
Glorious weather greeted students and staff for the staging of the annual House Athletics Carnival at Duncan Mackinnon Reserve in Murrumbeena.
House spirit at Camberwell Girls Grammar School is thriving and was celebrated triumphantly as students ran, jumped, and threw across the Track & Field program.
In an explosion of colour and movement, students created the optimal environment to promote high-level performance whilst also managing to bring laughter and enjoyment to the fore. Whether it was Emily L (Year 10) officially staking her claim as the fastest human at CGGS by winning the prestigious 100m Champions Sprint to students participating in the Cone Stacking Relay, celebration of the school community combined with sport occupied centre stage.
Congratulations to the members of Lawrence House who claimed their third House Athletics Championship from the past five years and to all Houses on the following finishing positions:
Congratulations also to the Year Level Champion place getters below:
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Year 7
Equal 1st – Holly P and Lucinda R
3rd – Joyce Z
Year 8
1st – Sienna J
2nd – Georgia P
3rd – Madeline L
Year 9
1st – Eden C
2nd – Ann B
3rd – Misaki S
SENIOR SCHOOL
Year 10
1st – Emily L
2nd – Alexia S-A
3rd – Selena C and Harper D
Year11
1st – Ruby E
Equal 2nd – Anneka S and Erika
Year 12
Equal 1st – Nysa R and Amber R
Equal 3rd – Ency C and Atara P
Carnival season has been in full swing these past few weeks, with the House Cross Country Carnival following swiftly on from the athletics showcase.
Deepdene Park was the venue for this celebration of running, as students once again relished the opportunity to immerse themselves in House spirit in idyllic conditions.
Students had the option of selecting to participate in either the 2km House event or the 3km Championship races.
With incredible student participation from all four Houses, the green machine of Taylor swept to victory to claim Cross Country Champion House status, with the remaining three Houses hot on their heels in the following finishing positions:
Congratulations to the Year Level Champion place getters below:
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Year 7
1st – Kelly Z
2nd – Grace W
3rd – Hannah G
Year 8
1st – Georgia P
2nd – Aneira P
3rd – Luna C
Year 9
1st – Anni Z
2nd – Olivia Y
3rd – Beatrix F
SENIOR SCHOOL
Year 10
1st – Emily L
2nd – Sass L
3rd – Pardis S
Year 11
1st – Anika S
2nd – Christina W
3rd – Anneka S
Year 12
1st – Amber R
2nd – Nysa R
3rd – Lauren S
Alum, Bella Fary (graduated 2024) has recently joined the CGGS coaching ranks with the commencement of the Cross-Country season.
Bella enjoyed an exceptional running career while at Camberwell Girls, and she has taken that ability and form to the tertiary level, recently representing Monash University at the Unisport National Athletics Championships.
With thousands of students from across forty-two member universities competing at the Gold Coast Performance Centre, Bella produced a run for the ages, winning the 1500m Women’s Gold Medal and establishing a new personal best time of 4.33.62.
Congratulations to Year 7 student, Zoe M, who recorded a personal best performance at the SSV Team Trials to gain selection to the Victorian team.
Zoe will represent her state at the School Sport Australia Nationals in Brisbane from July 26-August 1.
Completing three dives from the one metre and two dives from the three metre boards, Zoe turned in her best-ever score of 120.4 points.
Cameron Childs
Director of Sport
Mrs Dunwoody shares a very special gift that the Art Department has presented to the School.
Excursions, competitions, music and sporting achievements—it's been a busy fortnight.
The Year 3 to 6 students are still buzzing after last night's Choral Concert at St Mark's Church.
The Year Level Representatives have organised some fantastic activities recently, including a 'Paint and Sip' class!
