Our entire Senior School joined together on Monday morning to mourn the loss of Year 4 student, Annalise. Some of our students knew Annalise personally, while others are friends or classmates of her brother Brendon, who is in Year 11. We are deeply saddened by this loss and will ensure that support remains in place for those affected by this tragic news.

In times of grief, the tenderness and compassion shared among our students, staff and the entire CGS community, particularly towards Annalise’s family, provides us with such strength and reassurance.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Annalise’s family during this very difficult time.

Reintroducing ‘A-Day’

Last week, Melburnians marked their 200th day in lockdown since the start of the pandemic. So, the reintroduction of our weekly ‘A-Day’, perhaps now more than ever, reminds us of the importance of balancing academic commitments and physical and mental wellness.

Asynchronous learning is not the equivalent of having a day off. Students are encouraged to use the day to complete their schoolwork in subjects they choose and at a time when they choose. Screen-free time is essential when the majority of remote classes are online.

Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences will be held for families of students in Years 10 to 12 this week and next week for Years 7 to 9. This is an opportunity to discuss how your child is progressing, based on recent formative assessment, and to work together on ways to support their learning.

Many parents will no doubt be looking for ways to provide a productive remote workspace and to understand the expectations of remote learning. During Google Meets, students are reminded to turn on their camera and to be ready to contribute to discussions, as they would in a regular classroom.

Given that communication between students and teachers is not as immediate as it would be when on campus, students should check their Seqta messages several times a day and respond in a timely manner. We also ask that parents .check their Seqta messages regularly too, as this is the primary means of communication between school and home.

Despite the cancellation of various incursions, performances, excursions and camps, the SIS Debating Championship and the DAV Schools’ Competition went ahead remotely. All teams experienced great success with wins in their prepared and unprepared debates. Well done to all competitors!

Sadly though, lockdown and ongoing restrictions have resulted in the cancellation of Year 9 City Experience Camp. Parents will receive a refund for this in their statement of fees.

Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize

Entries are now open for the Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize that offers students in Years 9, 10 and 11 the opportunity to explore Australia’s proud and significant war and peacekeeping history, and receive a $2,500 scholarship to support their education.
The deadline for entries is 5.00 pm on Tuesday, 31 August.
Further details can be found at here.

Kate Morgan
Head of Senior School

Congratulations to our Dance Team

Since the beginning of the year, seven girls from Years 7 to 12 have been training for the Dance Star Competition. Every Tuesday morning, they meet in the PAC at 7.15 am and train for over an hour—learning and polishing their routine. Involvement has been a big commitment for the team, but they have all been happy to take this on.

On the July school holidays, the girls travelled to the Geelong Arena to compete in the State Championships. They performed to a very high standard and achieved a score of 68.9. Congratulations to Bridie Forster, Isabella Pucovski, Kirra Facey, Bryn Mills, Taylah Ringeri, Abigail Chapman and Courtney Andrews.

Natalie Burns

Head of Drama / Secondary Drama & Media Teacher