MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Synod
During last weekend I attended the annual Synod for the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. On Friday evening, some of our students participated in the service held at the cathedral. Our students were members of a combined choir which included students from Radford College, Canberra Grammar School and Burgmann Anglican School. They also participated in the scripture readings. The student choir and the music throughout the service was wonderful and much appreciated by the delegates. My thanks to Mary Tatchell, who was involved in the organisation of the service.
This was the last Synod for Bishop George Browning prior to his retirement in February 2008. Delegates at Synod took this opportunity to say farewell and to thank the Bishop for his leadership. In his charge to Synod, the Bishop reflected upon his years as Bishop and he thanked everyone for their support.
During the weekend, a presentation was made about the Anglican schools in the diocese and the delegates offered their thanks for the work of the staff in our schools and for their education of our young people.
Sunday Concert
Last Sunday afternoon I attended the final concert in the Sunday series and listened to performances by the Concert Bands and String Orchestra. It was a pleasure to hear each performance and I would like to give my thanks to all conductors and performers who played on Sunday and in the previous concerts of the series.
I hope that our School community will attend the Australian Schools Music Festival on Saturday 15 September at 4pm.
Student Leadership 2008
During Assembly this week I announced our student leaders for 2008 and these students are:
- School Captain: Miranda Cookman
- School Vice Captain: Elodie Cheesman
- SRC Chairperson: Julia Zhu
- Boarding House Captain: Mary Johnson
- Burgmann House Captain: Alice Hermes
- Deakin House Captain: Lauren Sewell
- Glebe House Captain: Anneliese Leerdam
- Kilburn House Captain: Elle Rasmussen
- Robertson House Captain: Leah Winnett
- Waverley House Captain: Laura Mackinnon
- Sports Captain: Helena Joseph-Hauser
- Drama Captain: Anna Trundle
- Debating & Public Speaking Captain: Shannon Narracott
- Music Captain: Megan McLaren
- Chapel Captain: Yanna Gouvoussis
We congratulate these students on achieving leadership positions within the School and I thank all students who nominated for positions. It is a strong demonstration of school spirit when a student nominates for a leadership position. It is our hope that all students will continue to demonstrate this school spirit and, while they may not have achieved a leadership positio, they will consider other ways in which they can lead and make a contribution. We will do all that we can to be proactive in offering Year 12 students opportunities to take a leading role within the School in various projects and activities which we will implement during 2008.
John F Kennedy said "Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."
I would encourage all of our students not to miss the future by thinking only of the past or the present. There are many occasions when a situation arises that may not lead to a successful outcome. In some instances, we continue to dwell on this single situation rather than look forward to the future and what might lie ahead for us. We cannot become consumed by a single failure or we will become afraid to take a risk and try again.
School Open Day
On Friday 7 September, we held our second Open Day for 2007. While the weather was inclement, we were pleased with the number of visitors to our Early Learning Centre, Junior School campus and Senior School campus.
The purpose of Open Days is twofold. Firstly, we introduce prospective parents to the School and secondly, we welcome parents who have already enrolled their children. For parents who have already enrolled, Open Days become a point of connection with the School. Our students are able to offer a tour of the School and give their own personal perspectives about their education at CGGS. For prospective parents, there is an opportunity to meet our students and staff, to view our facilities and to see the work that we do. For these parents, there is some information gathering and also an opportunity to see whether the School will fit the needs of their children.
Our student guides have become an important part of Open Day and I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all of the students who participated on Friday. Without fail, every student commented on how much they had enjoyed showing parents around the School. The student guides were surprised about how much they could tell parents about the School. Many of the students told me that they felt a sense of pride when showing parents their school.
While we do have some places available in 2008, most prospective parents were considering the School for enrolment two or three years in advance.
School Uniform
Given that we have been experiencing a range of temperatures, we have decided that for the final two weeks of Term 3 students will have the option of wearing either their winter or summer uniform.
I would like to remind parents and students that should the mornings remain cool, then the School blazer must be worn with the summer uniform. It is not acceptable to wear a School jumper to and from school.
I would also like to seek the support of parents in encouraging their daughters to follow the guidelines related to hairstyle and jewellery. Students from Years 7 to 10 must tie collar length hair in a ponytail. Neat hairstyles are encouraged. Plain sleepers or studs only to be worn in ears. We have a proliferation of large cubic zirconia ear studs which will be confiscated from students. A student may wear a small cross on a chain around her neck. The chain should not be visible. A number of students are wearing various necklaces and these will also be confiscated.
Susan Just
Principal
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL
Congratulations to all Year 11 students who were this week named as members of the 2008 Senior Council. In particular, I would like to pass on best wishes to Miranda, Elodie and Julia as the leaders of the Senior Council. I have every confidence that all of these students will be able to successfully lead the School in 2008 and that they will live up to the expectations entrusted to them by the staff and students who elected them.
Nominations are now open for all Election B positions (all other senior student leadership positions) and will close next Monday 17 September. Voting for these positions will take place in the last week of term and announcements will be made at the first Full School Assembly for fourth term.
Colours and Awards
This week, the Colours and Awards Committee met to examine nominations from teachers-in-charge of winter sports and a number of other co-curricular activities that have now concluded for the year. The names of recipients of Full School Colours, Half School Colours and Recognition of Service Awards for these activities will be placed on the Colours and Awards notice board early next week and presented at the full Senior School Assembly on 25 September.
Any student who wishes to appeal the decision of the Colours and Awards Committee in relation to her nomination must lodge an appeal in writing to David Blue, the Director of Operations and Logistics within 48 hours of the Awards being published. Students are encouraged to carefully read the criteria outline in the Colours and Awards booklet before making an appeal and any appeal must focus on the reason why the Award is deserved rather than a comparison with an other student.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
A reminder to all parents that Parent/Teacher Interviews for Semester 2 will be held on Monday 17 and Thursday 27 September. All parents should have by now signed the interview sheet and students should be in the process of obtaining suitable appointment times. Please restrict interviews to five minutes. If a longer interview is required, please make an appointment for another day. We would also ask that parents be mindful of our neighbors when parking on these evenings and be aware that parking is not permitted on the median strip in Melbourne Avenue.
Student Achievements
| Neeranjali and Swaranjali Jain (both 9R) competed in the piano division of the Australian National Eisteddfod last week and together achieved first prize in the U14 piano duet section and equal second in the U15 solo in Romantic or Impressionist style section. In addition, Neeranjali was placed first and Swaranjali was paced third in the U14 Baroque solo. Congratulations to both students. |
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| Congratulations to Sarah Dobbie (9W), Kate Gilmore (8D), Stephanie Kindon (9D), Helena Lyristakis (8G) and Ros Quincey-O’Neill (10D), who have been selected to represent the ACT in the U15 girls’ hockey team for the 2007 Women’s National Championships, to be held in Melbourne later this month. |
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Congratulations to Emma Carlin (9G) who has been selected in the ACT U16 girls’ softball squad to play in Adelaide in the upcoming holidays.
Congratulations to Leah Winnett (11R) winner of a Society for Australian-German Student Exchange (SAGSE) Scholarship to Germany. The Scholarship offers a ten week stay in Germany with a host family with transport, schooling and sightseeing costs included. For more details please go to the Modern Languages page on our website.
Congratulations to the Years 7/8 Touch Football team for winning all their games at the NSW Touch Association’s All Schools Regional Qualifying tournament, held in Jerrabomberra on Wednesday 12 September. The team has now been invited to attend the All Schools State Final to be held in Wallsend, NSW on 16 November. For more details please go to the Touch Football page on our website.
Fiona Godfrey
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School
MESSAGE FROM THE ASSISTANT DEPUTY PRINCIPAL (ELC-YEAR 2)
The Open Day last Friday was an opportunity for CGGS to showcase its excellence to the wider community.
The Junior School and the ELC had a steady stream of visitors who were all impressed by the classrooms they visited, the facilities they viewed and the wide range of opportunities which we offer our students. The Junior School Music staff are to be commended for organising excellent musical presentations which were a highlight for visiting families. Our thanks also go to the P&F representatives who were excellent advocates for the School.
As always our strongest advertisement was our students. Many of the visitors commented on the quality of the tours given by our Year 6 students, some even taking the time to telephone on Monday to give thanks to particular students. This is not exceptional as our students are often commended by the Canberra community for their high standards.
On Tuesday evening this week, Clements Hall was the venue for the Year 1 and Year 2 Disco. Our regular DJ - ‘DJ Cliff’, once again commented on the enthusiasm and excellent standard of behaviour of our students on the night.
As the buses pulled off along Grey Street this morning, to take the Year 6 students to Sydney for the exchange to Queenswood School for Girls, I was confident that they too would further our positive reputation, this time interstate.
Student Achievement
Congratulations to Georgie Koundouris (Y5) for achieving first place for piano solo at the Miles Franklin Music Festival 2007. Georgie, along with Brooke Newham (Y5), were awarded first place for piano duet. Due to a technical glitch, an incorrect photo of Georgie was published in last week’s Newsletter. We aplogise for any inconvenience caused.
Damaris Patterson
Assistant Deputy Principal (ELC-Year 2)
IMPORTANT DATES
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14-16 Sep Senior School Classics Camp, Sydney
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17 Sep Senior School Parent/Teacher interviews, 4pm to 8pm
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18 Sep Y11/12 Physics to Women in Technology, Australian National University
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18 Sep Junior Primary Concert, Clements Hall, 5pm
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18 Sep Senior School Sports Dinner, 6.30pm
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19-23 Dragon Boats to the World Championships, SIRC, Sydney
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20 Sep Y1 Learning Journey, 9.30am to 11am
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20 Sep Y3 Concert, Clements Hall, 7pm
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20 Sep String Quartet and Clarinet Ensemble at St Albans, 1pm
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20 Sep Y10 Drama Elective Performances, Drama Centre, 6pm
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21 Sep Y3 Grandparents’, Godparents’ and Grandfriends’ Day
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21 Sep Big Band Celebration, Performing Arts Centre, CGS, 7pm
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22 Sep Y10 Semi Formal, National Museum of Australia
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24 Sep Senior School - Auditions for all bands and ensembles.
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24-28 Sept ELC Parent/Teacher Interviews
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25 Sep Y7 to Greening Australia Tree Planting Day
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25 Sep Y5 Learning Journey, 12noon to 1.15pm
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25 Sep Parent Reporting Forum, Junior School Libaray, 7pm
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26 Sep Y6 Mini Fête
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26 Sep Y4 Space Trivia Night, 7pm to 8.30pm
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26 Sep Senior School dances in Dance Festival, Canberra Theatre
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27 Sep Y6 Learning Journey, 12noon to 1.30pm
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27 Sep Prep Learning Journey, 2.20pm to 3.20pm
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27 Sep Senior School Parent/Teacher Interviews, 4pm to 8pm
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28 Sep Y3 Learning Journey, 12noon to 1pm
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28 Sep Junior School end of term Chapel Service, Chapel of the Annunciation, 2pm
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30 Sep Blessing of the Animals Family and Friends’ Service, Chapel of the Annunication, 9am
- 30 Sep - 7 Oct French Language students trip to Noumea
SCHOOL SHOP
Term Time Hours
Tuesdays 8.15am to 2.00pm
Wednesdays 8.15am to 2.00pm
Thursdays 12noon to 5.30pm
T: 02 6202 6486
IN THE NEWS
More articles on School news, activities and events are available in the section ‘In the News’ on our website.
http://www.cggs.act.edu.au/pages/page416.asp
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Featured articles this week: |
Soccer News |
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ELC News |
Touch Football News |
Basketball News |
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Year 4 News |
Senior School Dance News |
Modern Languages News |
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Junior School French News |
Netball News |
Message from the Director of Pastoral Care |
