Musical Evenings

During last week I was fortunate to attend the Guitar Fiesta at Canberra Grammar School and the Year 9 and 10 Recital at CGGS. Both evenings were most entertaining and I would like to acknowledge the talent of both the students and our Music teachers. The Recital took us through instrumental pieces, solo and group singing performances, group instrumental pieces and the performance of Year 9 and 10 Choir. The Guitar Fiesta clearly demonstrated the wonderful work of nurturing our students in both the Junior and Senior Schools to be inspired by playing the guitar and playing a variety of music. I know that other recitals held last week were also well attended and wonderful.

It was a pleasure to attend the Junior School Musical on Wednesday evening. Alice - The Musical was colourful and entertaining. The large cast of students performed admirably and I would also like to congratulate the parents who were responsible for the colourful costumes.

My thanks to the production team: Jenny Johnson, Sara David, Bethany Farrell, Nichola McNally and Helen Shaw. Thanks must also go to the Junior School teachers who assisted the team and the students.

This is my third Junior School Musical and each one has been entertaining. I am always impressed by the enthusiasm of the students and the number of students who want to participate in these performances. We are very fortunate to have a Junior School in which students are able to persue their interests and gain valuable skills. The Senior School certainly benefits from the work of the Junior School staff in developing the many talents of the students.

One of the traditions of the Boarding House is for our Year 12 students to arrange a dinner for our Y12 boarding students who complete their courses at the end of Semester 1. The menu of pizza, salad and sticky date pudding was chosen by our leavers and there were speeches of farewell and a PowerPoint presentation. The remaining Year 12 students also serenaded the leavers with a song. It was an emotional and most appropriate farewell for our students who have each made their own contribution to the Boarding House and the School.

I would like to remind all parents that we will have a Family and Friends’ Service on Sunday 1 July at 9am at the Chapel of the Annunciation on the Senior School campus. The Service will be taken by Reverend Gayl Mills who is an Australian Federal Police Chaplain and a former parent of CGGS. Gail is looking forward to taking the Service and I am pleased that she has re-established a connection with the School during this semester as a result of events which have occurred within our community.

During this semester, the P&F Association executive has undertaken three major events. The sale of Entertainment Books; an Antique and Collectables Evaluation Day and a Movie Evening. The Movie Evening, which involved a screening of the latest Shrek film, was particularly well attended and proved to be most entertaining for children and parents. I would particularly like to thank Belinda Kenyon, Jann Carroll and Karen Chester for their organisation of Shrek 3. I am aware that Belinda Kenyon spent a considerable number of hours ensuring that the evening would be successful. Thanks to Jane Underwood, Wendy Kay, Suzanne O’Connor, Cathy Richardson and Petra Bouvain for their work on Hidden Treasures, which was the antique evaluation day. Jane Underwood worked with the antique evaluator to ensure that all would be in place for parents and friends of the School.

The School is very grateful to the P&F Association for the time it gives to the organisation of these fundraising activities. Our School has been able to purchase many resources as a result of the fundraising efforts of the P&F Association and these add to the education we can provide for our students. It is never easy for parents to combine their own careers and family activities with undertaking significant planning for such activities. It is important that we acknowledge this work and offer our sincere thanks.

I would also encourage members of the School community to attend the P&F Trivia Night on Saturday 31 August. A flyer can be found in this Newsletter. This will be my third Trivia Night and I can commend the evening. The Trivia Night is most entertaining and it is a good way to meet parents and staff in an informal setting.

As is always the case, this has been a busy first semester. The first day of school for our Year 7 students was particularly memorable for me. For the first time we gave each student a portfolio which we hope will be used for certificates and other documents the students receive during their years at CGGS. As each student walked across the stage to accept her portfolio, I believe that we were acknowledging a new beginning for the students and welcoming them to the Senior School campus. The Induction Ceremony for our Senior Leaders and Year 12 students is an important day during the first term because we are formally acknowledging the leadership role of our Senior students. The Senior Council has organised a number of activities during this semester and they are now planning significant functions for the second semester.

Throughout the semester I have participated in a seven hour hike during the Year 8 camp and watched wonderful performances by our musicians, dramatists and dancers. During this term, I have come along to sporting fixtures on the weekend. The Autumn Concert and production of Mirror Mirror are still vivid in my memory. The students performed with great enthusiasm and it was evident to me that they were inspired by these activities. Equally, I enjoyed the Year 6 Concert and felt very happy that so many talented young ladies were moving through the School.

I also see the same level of commitment in our sporting teams. During this semester, I have cheered our Rowing Squad and Dragon Boats teams. Our students in these two sports have achieved many honours, but equally as important is their ability to work as teams and the enjoyment they obtain from their chosen sports. Our students continue to compete well in sporting competitions and it is enjoyable to watch the teams play each weekend. The students are well supported by their coaches and their parents.

We were pleased to welcome Fleur Froggatt (Class of 1989) for Founders’ Day. Since leaving CGGS, Fleur has achieved a great deal in her military career but she has also found personal achievement and satisfaction in her life. She is adventurous and willing to take risks in order to develop her personal qualities and I believe that she is an excellent role model for our students. It was also pleasing to welcome Old Grammarians back to the School to receive their 50 year Badges.

I have watched proudly as 700 fathers, daughters and sons attended our first Safe School Breakfast. I was just as proud when Head of Deakin House, Brad Cooney, returned from the Safe Schools Teachers’ Conference and told us that other schools were interested in taking up our Safe Schools Committee approach and our Policy document.

I have also shed tears this semester for the loss of School parents and our colleague, Karen Harris. It has been difficult to lead a School which has faced so much grief but staff, students and parents have supported each other and the School. I would particularly like to acknowledge the leadership of Heather Ablett in the Junior School, and her Deputy Principals, Lee Wilde and Damaris Patterson. I also have enormous confidence in our School Counsellors, Julie Smith, Sharon Prendergast and Paula Morelli. Our Counsellors have provided ongoing support to our students and staff. I have noted their ability to watch over the staff and students and measure whether they are in need of some words of comfort or support.

As we end the first semester I would like to acknowledge the work of our staff and the work of our students. I am currently reading semester reports and it is evident that many students have worked conscientiously and completed a very successful semester. The reports written by our staff, highlight not only their interest in the progress of their students but also their professional attitude in providing such detailed communication to parents and their children.

I wish all members of our School community a safe and enjoyable vacation.

Susan Just
Prinicpal