I look forward to the Autumn and Spring Concerts because I know that there will be special moments throughout the program. The Autumn Concert last Friday provided many special moments for the audience.

Performing during the evening were the Senior Big Band, Motet Choir, Symphonic Wind Band, Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra. The entire program was wonderful but I would like to take special note of the Motet Choir singing three Australian bush songs by Australian composer, Iain Grandage, and the Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Sabre Danse by Samuel Pender-Bayne, as well as the Orchestra’s performance of Symphony No. 8, 1st Movement by Antonin Dvorak, conducted by Jean-Louis Forestier.

The Motet Choir used their voices to depict the images of Dawn, Birds and Sunset in the Australian Bush. They are to be congratulated for undertaking this challenging piece in such a successful manner.

Samuel Pender-Bayne is a student of Canberra Grammar School and we heard for the first time part of a four work portfolio which he submitted for his Higher School Certificate. Aaron Chew of Year 8 was the piano soloist. This was a colourful and energetic piece which the orchestra clearly enjoyed performing.

Jean-Louis Forestier has been working with the Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra during this year. The symphony piece played on Friday evening was the culmination of several months of rehearsals with the Symphony Orchestra. The standing ovation received by the Symphony Orchestra was well deserved. Not only did they successfully perform this piece under his conductorship but Jean-Louis Forestier inspired every young musician to perform at his or her very best.

I believe that the Combined Canberra Grammar Schools’ Music program does inspire our students to enjoy playing music at the highest level. Our Directors of Music offer many challenges in the musical repertoire created for each band, ensemble and choir. They are ably assisted by conductors who enjoy working with young people.

The co-curricular opportunities offered to our students enables them to not only pursue their interests, but to be inspired to achieve their best. The faces of the students who performed on Friday evening demonstrated to me that each felt an enormous level of satisfaction and joy.

Once again, CGGS will be involved in a variety of activities associated with National Safe Schools Week. Brad Cooney will be attending a conference for teachers in Queensland;the Safe Schools Committee attended the National Launch at Parliament House; and four students will participate in a forum with students from other ACT schools and psychologist, Andrew Fuller.

Our School will have a Father and Daughter/Son Breakfast to celebrate National Safe Schools Week. We currently have over 700 students and fathers attending the breakfast which was suggested by a student member of our Safe Schools Committee.

The National Safe Schools program has been introduced in schools throughout Australia. At CGGS, we have chosen to develop a program which enables teachers and students to work together on the issues related to the promotion of a safe school. Our Safe Schools Policy which focuses on bullying and harassment was developed by students and teachers. Our Safe Schools Committee, made up of students and teachers, meets once each cycle to plan and implement Actions to ensure that students will feel safe at the School. The Committee includes students from the Junior and Senior Schools and I have been pleased to see a steady progress towards a student-focused committee. The students are responsible for running each meeting and their input is vital in the planning and implementation of Actions within the School.

The students on the committee are committed to the promotion of a safe school and they wear their Safe School badges with pride. This in itself is important, because we have students who are prepared to voice their concerns and take positive action for the benefit of every student in the School.

Due to the large amount of cars that will be arriving at the School next Tuesday morning (29 May) for the Father and Daughter / Son Breakfast, we have had to put some parking restrictions in place.

Please note that the School gates will be closed for vehicle access. All pedestrian gates will be open. Pedestrian access will be available from Empire Circuit, Melbourne Avenue and Gawler Crescent. I hope parents will understand that we need to keep parking spaces available for staff arriving for the School day.

We would also like to remind parents that there is a no parking restriction in place on the Melbourne Avenue median strip. If you park there; you risk being fined. Given the number of additional cars in the area on Tuesday morning, you may wish to arrive a bit before 7.30am.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Susan Just
Principal

The Junior Chapel Choir, conducted by Director of Music, Mary Tatchell, performed yesterday at Woden Plaza for the launch of Anglicare’s Winter Pantry Appeal. Donations may be dropped off at the Reception of all campuses and cash donations can be made by calling Anglicare on 6220 8131.

It was a pleasure and delight to attend the Autumn Concert last Friday evening. The standard of our music program is exceptional and the staff and students involved with Friday’s performance should be very proud of their achievements.

The first half of the program featured the Senior Big Band, the Motet Choir and the Symphonic Wind Band while the second half showcased the talents of the Chamber Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra. While it is very difficult to highlight one particular piece or contribution, I particularly enjoyed the Motet Choir ‘s version of Walk in the Light and the Symphonic Wind Band playing Jupiter from the suite The Planets. It was quite obvious from the reaction by the students that they have also thoroughly enjoyed working under our guest conductor, Jean Louis Foresteir. The reception that they gave him was fitting of the expertise he has bestowed on the students in recent weeks.

At the very first Assembly of the year, I spoke to the students about the importance of the School Diary in terms of providing regular communication between home and school. Whilst we have formal Parent/Teacher interviews, parent information evenings and from time to time special meetings, one of the easiest means of having regular, informal communication is through the School Diary.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind parents that the School Diary is a very important document that holds a great deal of information: School rules, procedures, policies, important dates, and the student’s own personal timetable. It also has a section where parents and/or teachers can sign and make comment. The Diary must, wherever possible, remain in pristine condition and should be taken to every class, when attending Sick Bay and to and from school every day. Tutors will sign, and when appropriate make comment, once a cycle in the Diary and students in Years 7 to 10 will be asked to have their parents, or guardians, sign and make comment once a cycle. Subject teachers will make informal contact through the Diary if the need arises. I am confident that all families will be able to make very good use of the Diary as a constant means of communication.

Parents of students currently in Year 7 are reminded that the Year 8 in 2008 Information Evening is on next Monday evening in the Multimedia Theatre starting at 7.00pm. The focus of the evening will be examining curriculum options and subject selection for Year 8 students. Our Director of Faculty, Jennie Harris, and Director of Curriculum, Jenny Bartley, will both give presentations. In addition, the School Counsellor will provide an insight into some of the emotional, social and educational issues relevant to students undergoing transition from Year 7 into Year 8. The evening will conclude at approximately 8.15 pm with supper and an opportunity to speak to staff.

This week, letters will be going home to parents of Year 10 students outlining arrangements for the Semi-Formal which will be held at the National Museum of Australia on Saturday 22 September. We will also be asking for a group of parent volunteers to form a committee to work with staff in organising the event. We look forward to hearing from interested parents in the near future.

Fiona Godfrey
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

I was privileged this week to be invited to take some of the Junior School Class Captains and Deputy Class Captains, to represent the Junior School at the launch of Anglicare’s Winter Appeal at Woden. The Junior Chapel Choir also sang a beautiful blessing at the launch, under the expert guidance of the Director of Music, Mary Tatchell.

Our students are really sensitive to the needs of others and through the Student Representative Council (SRC) generously support many charities through social service activities. As cold weather approaches and we are now starting to notice the winter closing in, we turn to warmer clothes, fires and hearty meals. Unfortunately, for many families, this time can be one of real hardship. This appeal gives our students another opportunity to reflect on the circumstances of others who may be, through no fault of their own, without shelter, warm clothing, enough food or money to pay expensive heating bills. There are many, many families in need in the Canberra area and hundreds of calls for assistance to charity organisations in Canberra, including Anglicare, every week. The efforts of our community can help. Over the next few weeks we are asking for donated tinned food and perhaps there are other practical ways our students can assist others. There is a sense of purpose and pride that results from this.

Congratulations to Annabelle Sims (6S) for achieving a first in the U12 piano solo and a second in the U14 keyboard duet at the Taylor Music Festival held in Canberra on 19-20 May. Annabelle was complemented by the judges on her expression and timing.

Heather Ablett
Head of Junior School

IMPORTANT DATES

• 28 May Y8 Infomation Evening, Multimedia Theatre, 7pm
• 29 May Father and daughter/son breakfast, CGGS Hall, 7.30am
• 30 May CGGS Shakespeare Festival, Drama Centre, 6pm
• 31 May Y3 excursion to Tidbinbilla Tracking Station
• 1 Jun MindMax excursion to local Embassies
• 1 Jun Twilight Piano Concert, Music Centre Recital Room, 5pm
• 1 Jun Y9 Social, CGGS Hall, 7.30pm
• 2-3 Jun Australian National Eisteddfod, CGGS Hall, 9am
• 3 Jun Trinity Sunday Family and Friends’ Chapel Service, 9am
• 4 Jun ACT Cross Country
• 4 Jun Y7 in 2008 Information Evening, CGGS Hall, 7pm
• 4-8 Jun Y11/12 Test Free Week
• 5 Jun Junior School Sport, Music and Family photos
• 7 Jun Y6 excursion to Parliament House
• 7 Jun Junior Primary exchange with Canberra Grammar School
• 7 Jun Y11/12 Dance Performance Evening
• 8-10 Jun Senior Big Band trip to the Merimbula Jazz Festival

Tuesdays 8.15am to 2.00pm
Wednesdays 8.15am to 2.00pm
Thursdays 12noon to 5.30pm

Is your daughter interested in skiing for the School this year? Each July, CGGS provides teams from the Junior and Senior School for the ACT and Southern NSW Interschools Skiing Competition. Many of our teams have then gone on to compete at the Australian Interschools Skiing Competition. If you are interested in finding out more about skiing at CGGS or sharing information about skiing, particularly ideas on how to improve the Snowsports program, please forward your contact details to Brad Griffiths at brad.griffiths@cggs.act.edu.au or Ladner Phillips at rodlad@optusnet.com.au.

Brad Griffiths
Teacher-in-Charge of Snowsports

This year, the Australian National Eisteddfod for Bands will be held in CGGS Hall and it is expected that a large number of people will be attending. The Friends of Music (FOM) parent group will be selling refreshments over the two days and would greatly appreciate any offers of assistance by other parents. If you are able to spare even an hour, this would really help. FOM will be selling drinks, snacks, sandwiches and a BBQ throughout the weekend. This is a great opportunity for our school to host such an event. The Eisteddfod will be held at the CGGS Hall from 9am to 10.30pm on 2 June and 9am to 8pm on 3 June.

If you would like to assist, please contact Julie Dew on 0418 624907 or email rjrdew@bigpond.net.au.

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

P&F ASSOCIATION

Planning for this event is going well and we are looking forward to a fun day (with perhaps some exciting discoveries!). Please come along and bring your friends. Sunday week, 3 June, 10am to 4 pm, Clements Hall, Junior School campus. It will be open to the general public as well as to the School community so please spread the word. The valuer will be Davidson Auctions. We will charge $5 per item valued (maximum of 2 items per person).

Thanks to those who have offered to help with the event. We would be very grateful for offers of more food (soup, cakes, biscuits). If you are able to help please email Wendy Kay, e: wendy.kay@canberracoffee.com.au

Our major raffle is held in conjunction with the Fête. It is a significant fundraiser. As raffle books are distributed to every CGGS family, there are significant potential advertising benefits to prize donors. We would be very grateful for offers of prizes. This may particularly appeal to school families who run businesses but we will gratefully accept offers from the broader community. Prizes for the Fête Raffle need to be valued at $250 or more. Prizes (which can be of lesser value) are also gratefully accepted for the silent auction. To secure your place on the Fête Raffle ticket, please email the P&F asap.

Tickets have sold out! Thank you to all who have bought tickets. You should by now have received an email confirming your ticket purchase. We will not be issuing tickets, but will check off names at the door. Many thanks to Belinda Kenyon for all her work organising this.

With thanks for your support.

Juliet Behrens
P&F President
email: PandF@cggs.act.edu.au t: 6161 8140 (h)