Last weekend there were many activities in which students and staff participated. On Saturday, students sat for the Gabriel Boarding Scholarships. Our students performed admirably at the Canberra Grammar School Fête in a variety of music groups. Our Softball team won their Grand Final in fine style and our Basketball teams competed against each other in their Final.

On Sunday, Fiona Godfrey, David Blue and I attended the HOTR. The rowing crews performed very well against schools from Sydney, regional NSW and the ACT. It was particularly pleasing to farewell our First VIII as they moved off to the final race of the day. They overcame injuries and damage to our boat to row competitively in their race. I would particularly like to offer my thanks to the CGGS Rowing parent supporters who cheered and supplied an endless buffet of food throughout the day. Not only are they supportive of their own daughters but of the entire Rowing Squad.

Last week I also attended performances by our Guitar Ensemble and Flute Ensemble. The students performed to a very high standard and I was impressed by their level of commitment to their ensembles. Teresa Rabe and Minh Lo Troang, peripatetic Music teachers in the School, performed for the audience and it was a pleasure to listen to such talented musicians. We are very fortunate to have teachers of such a high calibre who are available for the students who wish to undertake music lessons in the School. As Mary Tatchell said "it is important for our students to listen to each other, given that their rehearsals are often scheduled for the same times, and it is important for the students to listen to the music produced by their teachers".

Last Saturday Penny Crawford (Marketing and Communications Manager) Claire Sadler (School Archivist) and I travelled to Sydney for a luncheon organised by the Sydney Branch of the OGA. This is my third such lunch and I was pleased to meet nearly forty Old Grammarians.

Attending lunches such as this allows me to learn more about the history of the School and gather some wonderful stories about past events and teachers. The memories shared with me by the Old Grammarians are very positive and highlight their continued connection with the School.

The Old Grammarians are interested in the current School, its students and staff. They ask me questions about changes made and the interests of the students. We were able to provide copies of Burrawi and the new School Prospectus.

Our Old Grammarians have led interesting and purposeful lives. Some have become teachers, while others have become visual artists, writers, solicitors and business women. I enjoy learning more about their achievements after school. Some of the ladies who regularly attend the lunch are from the class of 1939. They are very special people who helped to form the important fabric of the School.

My attendance at the Old Grammarians’ lunch and activities such as the HOTR highlight for me the important connection and sense of belonging which is achieved through attendance at the School and maintaining friendships with others who attended the School. At the Old Grammarians’ lunch, the ladies have not only retained their interest in the School but have developed friendships at the School which have been continued throughout the years. At the HOTR on Sunday, it was heartening to meet with a number of past students who were members of the Rowing Squad. They came to support the students and felt the strong connection which had been developed during their years at the School. These young women have completed GAP years and are now attending university but they have retained their interest in the students and the School.

I know that students who develop friendships at school continue to support their friends throughout the years and there have been many occasions in the lives of our past students when those friendships have been life saving. Through times of adversity or tragedy, our past students have found the support and guidance of their friends. This is a valuable lesson for our current students in that the friendships which they currently have at school may well last well into their adult lives. Their friends will be accessible to them to share joyful times and times of adversity. The School will also remain a support to our students while they are here and when they leave.

I would like to encourage families to attend our Family and Friends’ Easter Service this Sunday 8 April beginning at 9.00am. The service is a wonderful opportunity for families of the School to join together in worship.

Susan Just
Principal

There is always considerable discussion amongst teachers about what is the busiest term. While I am not sure which term takes the honour, last week must surely rate as one of the busiest at CGGS. After AST trials and practice for Year 11 and 12 students early in the week, on Thursday, all Year 9 students were involved in Brain Day which allowed them to explore the concept of emotional intelligence and learn strategies to control emotions. The Music Department conducted a flute and guitar recital on Wednesday evening while the Drama Department staged the much anticipated Cabaret Evening as part of the activities for Open Day, held on Friday evening. The Boarding House Scholarship testing and interviewing took place on Saturday and on Sunday a large contingent of parents and students travelled to Penrith for the HOTR. We are indeed very thankful that we have an extended Easter weekend this week to take stock and re-charge the batteries for the final week of term, but we should spare a thought for our Dragon Boat teams who will be battling it out in Penrith over the Easter break in an attempt to secure back-to-back National Championships! We wish them well.

The rowing season concluded on the weekend with the CIS Schoolgirls’ HOTR in Penrith. In perfect weather conditions, the day was an exciting and memorable finale to yet another successful season of rowing at CGGS. I was particularly proud of the fact that such a large number of parents and supporters were there to encourage the rowers on the day and am very confident that we were one of the more vocal and prominent groups on the banks of the river. The ongoing success of the CGGS Rowing Squad is due to the hard work of our rowing staff especially our Head of Rowing, Dafydd Gwynn-Jones, Year 9 Teacher-in-Charge, Richard Kent and Year 10 Teacher-in-Charge, Megan Gscheidle.

We are very appreciative of the time and effort that parents have put in throughout the season. We are cognisant of the commitment from families but without their on-going support the program would not be as successful as it is currently. In particular, I would like to thank Nick Welch, Graham and Margaret Patrick, Deb and David Long, Denise and Brett Caldwell and Paul Miniter for their hard work and dedication throughout the season.

The camaraderie off the water continues to grow with students, parents and supporters. I was particularly heartened to see such a large number of parents at the dinner at The Log Cabin Motel on Saturday night. It was a highly enjoyable occasion and allowed the parents to get into the spirit of the competition prior to the big day. We look forward to seeing a large number of parents at the Rowing Dinner/Auction at the Commonwealth Club on Friday 4 May.

The second night of Parent/Teacher Interviews for this semester is scheduled for Thursday 12 April. All students should have by now discussed with parents with whom they wish to make an appointment, had the booking sheet signed by their parents and made contact with relevant staff. Any student who has lost or misplaced the booking sheet can collect another one from the General Office.

Congratulations to Sarah English (7B) who last year won the NSW Cyclist of the Year (U13 division). Sarah, who is a boarder at the School, will travel to Sydney on 21 April to receive the award.

Fiona Godfrey
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

As many of you are aware the Junior School was selected last year to take place in a pilot of KidsMatters. KidsMatters is a primary school mental health initiative which addresses the social and emotional learning of students. One aspect of the project is to introduce a wider variety of programs to address this area of our curriculum. This year, we are introducing the FRIENDS for Life program into Year 4. Besides being one of the recommended programs from KidsMatters, the program contributes to the holistic education of students, to which CGGS has long been committed. In addition to academic studies, physical, social, and emotional areas of development are key ingredients in becoming an independent and productive adult.

FRIENDS for Life aims to help children learn to manage feelings, especially anxious feelings, and take on life’s challenges with a positive and resilient attitude. It involves ten sessions, to be run in class time over the course of a term. Margaret Willis’ class will be first to take part, commencing in Term 2, then Helen Shaw’s class in Term 3 and Amanda-Jo Birchall’s class in Term 4.

The fact is that feeling ‘stressed out’ has become such a common part of the vernacular that we might not be surprised to find that "anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem facing children today," according to Queenslander Dr Paula Barrett, internationally acclaimed researcher and practitioner who pioneered the programme. In fact, it is estimated that between 15 and 20% of children feel anxiety that diminishes the quality of their lives.

FRIENDS for Life, based on many years of ongoing and continuing research, is one of the select programs recommended by the Second National Mental Health Plan to decrease the risk factors associated with anxiety. It is also cited in the 2004 World Health Organisation’s report Prevention of Mental Disorders: Effective Interventions and Policy Options as a program which "teaches children skills to cope with anxiety more effectively and builds emotional resilience, problem-solving abilities and self-confidence."

School Counsellor and Psychologist, Paula Morelli, who has also completed the training course to run FRIENDS for Life, will conduct the program. A workbook will be provided to students, funded by The Rotary Club via the KidsMatters’ project. Early topics will include an introduction to feelings; the fact that people are different; the identification of, and relationship between, thoughts and feelings and how they relate to behaviour; and the identification of worried feelings and how to cope with such situations.

For more information, contact Paula Morelli at the School on 6202 6411 and/or refer to the Time magazine article (23 February, 2004) at: www.time.com/time/pacific/magazine/20040223/anxiety.html

Congratulations to Melissa Clery (Prep J) who recently competed in the Little Athletics ACT Championships where she won a silver medal in the long jump and a bronze medal in the 50m race. The Carnival was on 24 and 25 March at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Melissa represents the Woden Club.

Heather Ablett
Head of Junior School

• 4-8 Apr Dragon Boats at the National Championships, Penrith
• 6-9 Apr Easter holiday break
• 8 Apr Easter Chapel Service
• 10-13 Apr ELC & Junior School Parent/Teacher Interviews
• 11 Apr Y4 Excursion to Lanyon Homestead
• 11 Apr Rowing Crews Presentation Evening, Elizabeth McKay Aquatic Centre, 7pm
• 12 Apr Junior School Uniform Free Day - ‘Come As You Are’
• 12 Apr Senior School Parent/Teacher Interviews, 4pm-9pm
• 13 Apr Junior School end of term Chapel Service, Chapel of the Annunciation, Senior School campus, 2.15pm
• 13 Apr End of Term 1
• 30 Apr Start of Term 2

Holiday Opening Hours
Friday 27 April 10am to 5pm
Saturday 28 April 10am to 3pm

Term 2, Week 1
Monday 30 April (Day 1) 8.15am to 4.00pm
Tuesday 1 May 8.15am to 2.00pm
Wednesday 2 May 8.15am to 2.00pm
Thursday 3 May 12noon to 5.30pm

Term Time Hours
Tuesdays 8.15am – 2.00pm
Wednesdays 8.15am – 2.00pm
Thursdays 12noon – 5.30pm

T: 02 6202 6486

GENERAL WEEKLY NEWS

Sister Lindy Latta
School Nurse

Our School has decided to participate in the Sustainable Schools ‘Easter Egg Foil Ball Competition’. Sustainable Schools ACT is run through Territory and Municipal Services in the ACT Government as part of a national partnership with the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative.

The competition is aimed at raising awareness of recyclable materials and Easter egg foil wrapping is one of them!

In order for our school to win, in the weeks following Easter (up to Friday 4 May), students can bring in all the foil from their chocolates. Staff and students will then produce one giant ball on behalf of the School in order to win $1000 that we can put towards making our school more sustainable!

But beware – we can ONLY use FOIL. Foil is different to metallic shiny plastics. Foil can be easily torn, and when scrunched, it stays in a ball. For example, the wrapping around muesli bars and some chips packets looks foil-like on the inside, but it is actually plastic as it does not scrunch and stay in a ball. If we contaminate the foil ball with plastics and other non-aluminium foil products, the ball will not be able to be recycled.

Helen Shaw
Waste Wise Coordinator

We are in the process of considering places for new students for entry in 2008.

Although we do not require final notification before the last day of Term 3 this year, it would assist with our planning if we had some idea of your plans for next year now. We hope that your son/daughter will remain at CGGS, nevertheless we appreciate that in special circumstances some students may not return next year or will be leaving mid-year this year. Notification of withdrawal from the School is kept completely confidential. Notice, in writing, of at least one complete School term is required to:

a) cease enrolment;
b) change from boarding to day student status;
c) change from day student to boarding status.

In case of a) and b) fees for one half term are payable if sufficient notice is not given. For example, if a student is not returning for Term 1 in 2008, written notice must be received by the Principal by the last day of Term 3 in 2007. In the absence of such notice, one half of the Term 1 2008 tuition and/or boarding fee is chargeable.

Barbara Connolly
Registrar

  More articles on School news, activities and events are available in the section ‘In the News’ on our website.

The P&F had our monthly meeting on Tuesday. This month we have:

• distributed the Entertainment™ Book, which will raise several thousand dollars - final figures to come soon, thanks particularly to Wendy Kay and Suzanne O’Connor;
• barbecued for, and chatted with, prospective parents at the School’s Open Day with thanks to Jayne Francis, Judy Jones, Elizabeth Baillie, Suzanne O’Connor and Sonya Woodwell;
• contributed to a panel discussion with the Registration Board as part of the process of re-registering the School, thanks to Michael Butcher; and
• investigated possibilities for fundraising and social functions during the year.

Over the next month we will be:

• developing a process for P&F nominations for teachers’ and School prizes;
• working on our section of the School’s website;
• planning for functions.

We have decided to continue what is becoming a bit of a tradition - the annual Trivia Night. We expect to hold this in August and will let you know a date as soon as possible. This is always a great night. Thanks to Tracey Mackey, who has offered to organise this.

We will also be trying a new event - ‘For Love or Money’ session to which you will be able to bring items for valuing by a qualified valuer. We will charge a small fee per item for this. Experience at other schools suggests this will be a popular event and a good fundraiser. This will probably be in June, again, we will let you have the date as soon as we can. Thanks to Jane Underwood for suggesting and organising this.

We always have the Fête in mind (27 October 2007, but it’s never too early to start!). Sally Kaye, the immediate past President of the P&F has offered to be the convenor again this year - for which we are all very grateful.

We are starting our search for convenors of stalls so please let me know if you are interested. Also, we need a convenor to oversee the food stalls. There are protocols in place and plenty of sources of help and support so please give some thought to whether you could take on this job. I am happy to discuss what is involved with anyone interested.

David Needham has been working hard at the Shed sorting items which have been donated for sale at the Fête. For those of you who don’t know, the Shed is to the right as you enter the Senior School campus off Chapel Drive (off Gawler Crescent). We welcome donations of clean, sellable items but please no electrical goods, furniture or School uniforms as we cannot sell these.

For the month of April we are particularly keen to build our stock of books and CDs so please give some thought to having a clean out over Easter and the holidays and dropping these off at the Shed.

Thanks again for your support. Anyone who was at the Open Day last Friday would have been so proud of our School and all who work and study there. I certainly was!

Juliet Behrens
P&F President
E: PandF@cggs.act.edu.au
T: 6161 8140 (ah)

ROWING

Pleae click here to download a pdf version of the invitation below.

The Anglican Board of Mission (ABM) has received advice from the Church of Melanesia that the devastation from the Tsunami that hit the western province of the Solomon Islands was far more extensive than originally believed. 

ABM has responded immediately by sending an initial amount of $10,000 from its Reserve Emergency Relief Fund. The donation will be equip the Church of Melanesia's ship with much needed supplies for the victims of Tsunami.

As further funds will be required to support recovery, ABM and AngliCORD are launching a tax deductible appeal which will allow the Church of Melanesia to provide supplies and long term assistance in the rebuilding of the western province.

Donations may be sent in the following ways:

• cheque/money order - please make your cheque/money order out to: Anglican Trust Fund For Development and attach a note with your name and address (for receipting purposes), stating that your gift is for the Solomon Islands Emergency Appeal and post to ABM – Australia,  Locked Bag Q4005, Queen Victoria Building NSW 1230
• credit card - we accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Diners card  - please phone us during office hours on 1300 302 663  or in Sydney on 9264 1021) and provide us with your details
• online at www.abmission.org and follow the links from the Solomon Islands Emergency Appeal
• donations can also be sent to AngliCORD at - PO Box 139, East Melbourne VIC 8002 or ring AngliCORD on: 1800 249 880

Please continue to pray for all those affected by this disaster in the Solomon Islands and for those seeking to provide emergency relief.

For further information please contact ABM's Overseas Programs Coordinator, The Rev  John Deane on 1300 302 663 or in Sydney on 9264 1021.

Yours In Christ
Linda Kurti
Executive Director
Anglican Board of Mission - Australia Ltd

THE FIVE MARKS OF MISSION

1. Witness to Christs' saving, forgiving and reconciling love for all people
2. Build welcoming, transforming communities of faith
3. Stand in solidarity with the poor and needy
4. Challenge injustice and oppression
5. Protect, care for and renew life on our planet