CGGS Newsletter No. 16 – 8 June 2007

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Family and Friends' Service

On 3 June, we held our Trinity Sunday Family and Friends’ Service. The service also acknowledged the wonderful contribution which the Gabriel Foundation makes to our School.

The members of the Gabriel Foundation provide the School with resources, scholarships for students and staff and facilities. CGGS Hall on the Senior School campus is one of the facilities which the Gabriel Foundation has made possible and the Foundation has also provided the audio and visual equipment in CGGS Hall.

While the Foundation gives its attention to the practical needs of the School, the members also are very much interested in the staff and students. I have presented an overview of the Strategic Plan and the Master Plan to the Gabriel Foundation Board. The members are keen to learn about the future direction of the School and the support they can provide.

Our Family and Friends’ Service was led by the Reverend Richard Browning, who is one of the Chaplains at Radford College. During the last week, our colleagues from Radford College, Canberra Grammar School and Burgmann College have offered their prayers and support. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Richard for arranging our Family and Friends’ Service.

Communication using email

Recently our teaching staff participated in a professional development activity on communication. The presenters made some salient points about the use of email.

Email is a fast and convenient way for parents to send messages to teachers, Heads of House or Heads of Department, but it is important to remember that an immediate reply may not be possible. The daily timetable for each teacher varies and it is possible that a teacher may have a full day of teaching, followed by meetings after school. Teachers will try to read their emails at least once each day but they may not be able to respond immediately.

When a parent writes an email to a teacher it is useful to consider:

• Email is not confidential, therefore it is more appropriate to communicate personal information about your son or daughter by letter, telephone or personal contact.
• Email should be used for more general purposes, rather than seeking information about the academic progress of your son or daughter. A telephone conversation or personal contact would be most appropriate.
• An email to seek a request for extended leave for your son or daughter will be followed up by a formal letter of response from the School.

Members of staff do receive emails about specific situations or problems which arise at school. It may be useful for parents to consider the information which is placed in such an email.

• A summary or outline of the situation or problem which has arisen will be most relevant for the member of staff.
• A clear explanation of the concern will assist the member of staff in determining how to investigate the matter or respond to the situation or problem.

The staff members of the School are genuine in wanting to find a resolution to problems or concern. Therefore, we would ask that parents consider the situation first, and then send an email which remains courteous, but provides all of the relevant information.

Emails can be sent quickly and therefore we often do not take the time to reflect upon our feelings at the time, or consider how the person who is to receive the email will feel.

On Friday and Saturday of last week, Tina Twigg, Head of the Boarding House, Penny Crawford, Marketing and Communications Manager, and I visited Wagga Wagga for the NSW Boarding Schools’ Expo. The exhibition was well organised and a number of schools from Sydney and Albury joined CGGS and CGS. During Saturday, Tina, Penny and I spoke with approximately twenty families about boarding and attending CGGS. The weekend was successful and it reminded me of the positive changes we have made in the Boarding House during this year.

The boarding students have certainly enjoyed the new Boarders’ Sitting Room, which includes a big plasma screen television. The Boarders’ Sitting Room is now a light and airy room, filled with comfortable seating and bright decorations. The Boarding House has undergone some additional interior decoration, thanks to Tina and the Boarding House staff.

During this semester, Sarah Cattermole, Deputy Head of the Boarding House, has been working with our boarding students on their studies. She regularly speaks with Heads of Department and teachers about the academic progress of students and seeks to find strategies which will assist them in their studies and homework. We also have a tutor who has been offering Mathematics tutoring to the students in the Boarding House. We are hoping to expand this additional subject tutoring during Terms 3 and 4.

Our weekend recreational and social activities have continued to expand with social evenings being organised for specific Year levels. We have invited students from Canberra Grammar School for a social evening and will continue this during the next semester. A number of weekend trips and activities have been arranged for the boarding students. Tina has also arranged special birthday dinners and we all enjoyed the Easter dinner and Easter Hat competition.

These activities highlight the importance of creating a home for the boarding students. Tina, Sarah and the Boarding House staff are providing excellent pastoral support and guidance to the students. There is a clear structure within the Boarding House, but the students understand that we are trying to create a home away from home.

Susan Just
Principal

Last Saturday the four concert bands from the combined Canberra Grammar Schools performed at the Australian National Eisteddfod, held in the CGGS Hall. All bands performed admirably and competed against some fine bands from interstate and around Canberra.

In the age group sections all performers received a gold, silver or bronze trophy. The adjudicator was fair but firm in his judging and only three gold trophies were awarded across five sections. In the 16 years and under C grade, the Hultgren Concert Band narrowly missed being awarded gold. Four silver awards were given in this section.

The Stanhope Concert Band also performed exceptionally well and received a silver trophy in a very tough field. The Grainger Concert Band performed extraordinarily well and won the first gold trophy for the combined Canberra Grammar Schools in the competition.

In the evening the Symphonic Wind Band (SWB) competed in two sections against professional adult musicians and interstate competitors. Only first and Highly Commended awards were announced in the open age divisions. In the Open C the SWB impressed the audience and adjudicator with their musicality and precision, and were awarded first place playing A Cause for Celebration. In the more competitive Open B division SWB narrowly missed out on the first prize by one point.

Congratulations to all musicians and conductors for their excellent performances throughout the Eisteddfod. I would also like to thank Friends of Music for all of their hard work in providing the catering for the duration of the weekend.

Last Monday, the Heads of House spent the day in CGGS Hall interviewing and counselling our current Year 10 students in relation to subject choices for Years 11 and 12 in 2008/09. Teresa Bubear, Careers Advisor, was also available to give advice to individual students about career options and tertiary requirements while the Director of Curriculum, Jenny Bartley, provided additional support in relation to the suitability of subject packages and ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) requirements. We would encourage parents to continue speaking with their daughters about choosing the best combination of subjects based on informed decisions and the right reasons. Subject selection forms for 2008 will be given to all students in the Senior School at the start of the first week of Term 3 and will be due back at the end of that week on Friday 27 July 2007.

Last Friday night, students from CGS and CGGS came together in CGGS Hall for a night of excitement, frivolity and ‘socialisation’. The theme for the evening was Sea you there and it was pleasing to see that a number of students had explored the nautical theme. Much of the organisation for the Social was due to the hard work of the Senior Council members, who along with some senior students from CGS, arranged the tickets, decorations, drinks, music and security and then on the night acted as bouncers, compères, entertainers and even cleaners! They demonstrated an extraordinary quality of relaxed organisation mixed in with a delightful sense of fun. Thank you girls!

Parents are reminded that students should not be dropped off inside the School grounds. In recent days we have experienced an increasing number of parents who are driving into the School via the Melbourne Avenue, Gabriel Drive and Chapel Drive entries. In the interest of student safety and traffic flow management I would ask that all students are dropped off outside of the School grounds.

Good luck to Pip Marques (8G) who will participate in the Icon Girls’ Surf Showdown this week at Lennox Head in NSW. This is a significant ‘girls’ national competition, the largest and most competitive for the winter season, and may provide opportunities for the summer series. We wish her well.

Fiona Godfrey
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

As we have come to the close of some difficult times, I wanted to thank the many people who have supported our whole School, and especially the staff in the Junior School. The loss of our dear colleague and friend, Karen Harris, will be felt in our school for a very long time. A number of people have enquired if the School will be acknowledging Karen by way of a memorial and there have been some really wonderful suggestions. We will not rush our decision but will give careful consideration into what and how this will be done.

During the last couple of weeks we have all felt the love and care from the whole School community and the wider community. The many cards, flowers, gifts, emails and messages of comfort have carried heart warming sentiments for the students, the staff and for Paul’s family. We are also grateful to the whole parent body for so graciously accepting the Junior School closure yesterday, which allowed all staff to attend Karen’s funeral. My words cannot adequately express how much we have appreciated how this care and concern made us feel.

This afternoon’s Memorial Service is our way of paying tribute to Karen and will help us all. The students in our Junior School Choirs will sing at this service. It is something they really want to do and they will sing like angels. I know that many parents, students and our friends from the wider community will be there to celebrate Karen’s life and her special place in the School.

We are still looking for more food items for the Anglicare Winter Appeal. Canned or packaged food items can be brought to school at any time.

Thank you to all parents and friends who are forwarding their Westfield dockets to the School to support our participation in the Shop For Your school promotion. It’s as easy as sending your dockets along to school if you haven’t personally registered. If any family or friends have registered and have a key tag, envelopes in which to post dockets are available from Mrs Cunningham.

Heather Ablett
Head of Junior School

• 11 June Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
• 11-19 Jun Y11/12 Test Week
• 12 Jun Junior Primary Numeracy Evening
• 14 Jun Y8 Geography excursion to Geo Science Australia and Questacon
• 17 Jun Connections Choir, Oaktree Foundation Concert, CGGS Hall, 7.30pm
• 18 Jun Y7 Music Recital, Music Centre Recital Room, 7pm
• 19 Jun Y8 Music Recital, Music Centre Recital Room, 7pm
• 19 Jun Y3 to Y6 English Assessment
• 20 Jun Y6S and Y6KH, Tournament of Wizard Brains, Junior School Library
• 20 Jun Guitar Orchestra ‘Guitar Fiesta’, Canberra Grammar School, 5.30pm
• 21 Jun Prep excursion to the Canberra Theatre
• 21 Jun Y9/10 Music Recital, Music Centre Recital Room, 7pm
• 21-22 Jun Y12 Economics overnight excursion to Sydney
• 22 Jun Y6 excursion to Parliament House

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

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

 

JUNIOR SCHOOL NOTICES
Excursion / Activity	Date Handed to Students	Permission Slip Return Date / Date of Activity	Staff Member / Department
School Closure	1 June 2007	Thursday 7 June	Heather Ablett, Head of Junior School
Y6 Excursion to Parliament House – New Date	1 June 2007	Friday 22 June	Y6 Class Teachers
Church Service Information	1 June 2007	Thursday 7 June and Friday 8 June	Susan Just, Principal
Head Lice Y3	5 June 2007	N/A	Heather Ablett, Head of Junior School
Junior Primary Exchange with Canberra Grammar School – New Date	5 June 2007	Thursday 14 June	Emma Cox, Assistant Stage One Coordinator
Tournament of Minds - Selections	5 June 2007	Competition Saturday 1 September	Jillian Shaw, TOM Coordinator
Y3 Reports and Staffing	5 June 2007	3H Parent/Teacher Interviews Slip Return by Tuesday 12 June	Heather Ablett, Head of Junior School
Junior Primary Numeracy Evening	5 June 2007	Return Slip by Friday 8 June. Function Tuesday 12 June	Damaris Patterson, Assistant Deputy Principal (ELC – Year 2)
Junior and Senior Choirs – Memorial Service	5 June 2007	Friday 9 June	Jenny Johnson, Head of Music and Performing Arts
Acting Antics Drama Company	8 June 2007	Monday 16 July – Thursday 19 July	Heather Ablett, Head of Junior School
2T Staffing for Term 3	8 June 2007	N/A	Heather Ablett, Head of Junior School

P&F ASSOCIATION

I’m looking forward to seeing you at Shrek tonight (Friday).

This event was held on Sunday and raised approximately $600 for the School. Jane Underwood and her team did a fabulous job. Many thanks to those from outside the P&F Committee who helped. In particular, Cathy Richardson played a key role and Louise Willemson did some wonderful cooking. All-day help in many ways was provided by fabulous daughters of whom any parent would be proud - Louise Underwood, Nicole Kay, and Phoebe O’Connor- thanks girls.

Our next big event will be a Trivia night to be held at the Elizabeth McKay Aquatic Centre on Friday 31 August. Details to follow, but please mark this day in your diaries now. This is usually a sell-out. Thanks to Tracey Mackey for organising this with her usual aplomb!

Thanks to those families who have offered to donate prizes for this year’s Fête Raffle. If anyone else is interested in donating please email the P&F ASAP. Many thanks to James Parsons, who has agreed to organise the Fête Raffle this year, and to Marion Musslewhite, who will be a food stalls and supplies convenor.

With thanks for your support.

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

Thank you to the many music teachers, school support staff and parents who assisted Friends of Music in catering for the National Bands Eisteddfod last Saturday and Sunday. The Eisteddfod organisers were extremely pleased with the catering we provided and thought it added considerably to the success of their two days at CGGS. Your assistance was greatly appreciated and your efforts were rewarded with excellent fundraising.

Thank you so much.

Julie Dew
Convenor

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

The inclusion of announcements in this publication is in no way to be interpreted as an endorsement of support by the School. Readers are responsible for forming their own opinion as to the value or reliability of the information contained in such announcements.