Subject Selection Expo – A Great Success

On Tuesday 13 May, we held our annual Subject Selection Expo, welcoming over 300 students, parents and guardians to an evening dedicated to exploring future learning opportunities at Casey Grammar School.

The event provided a valuable opportunity for students to gain insights into the wide range of course options available at the school and to engage in meaningful conversations with teaching staff about subject pathways and curriculum content.

Throughout the night, information sessions were run to support families in understanding the selection process and to help students make informed decisions about their academic journey.

A special thank you goes to our incredible student volunteers, who cooked up a storm on the barbecue, helped set up the event, and spoke with families about their experiences with various subjects. Their enthusiasm and leadership contributed to the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the evening.

The Subject Selection Expo is a highlight of the academic calendar, and this year’s event once again demonstrated the strength of our school community and our shared commitment to student excellence.

Tegan West
Head of Teaching and Learning

Sarah Blythman
Head of Teaching and Learning Head of Careers and Pathways

Formative Feedback and Learning Behaviours Now Available for Years 7–12 Students

We are pleased to inform families that all Years 7–12 students have now received formative comments for each of their subjects. This feedback is now available on SEQTA under ‘assessments.’

These comments are provided mid-term and are designed to give students clear and constructive feedback to support their learning. Each formative comment is structured to answer three key questions:

1. Where is the student at with their learning?
2. What is the next step for them to take?
3. How do they go about doing this?

In addition to this, learning behaviours are now available for parents to view. These learning behaviours are actions and efforts that the subject teacher has witnessed within their classroom. For each subject, teachers assess students on five key learning behaviours: Engaged Learner, Independent Learner, Collaborative Learner, Organised Learner and Respectful Learner. Each behaviour is scored on a scale from 0 to 4 (0 = Not Demonstrated, 1 = Rarely, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Mostly, 4 = Always).

Students are also asked to reflect on and rate their own learning behaviours in each subject area, encouraging greater ownership of their learning and development.

This feedback provides a valuable opportunity for students to reflect, set goals, and continue building strong learning habits. We encourage parents and guardians to take the time to review this feedback with their child and discuss strategies for continued growth and success.

Tegan West
Head of Teaching and Learning – Senior School

Debating and Public Speaking

This week, our Debating and Public Speaking students took part in a truly memorable series of events, filled with excitement, learning and personal achievement. During a day of speeches and an evening of debate, students had the chance to showcase their talents, build confidence and support one another as they stepped up to the challenge.

On Thursday 8 May 2025, our public speakers delivered their prepared speeches under the guidance of Ms Rebecca Nettleton. Each student spoke with confidence and clarity, and the audience was incredibly impressed by their efforts. A standout moment came when Kylie O (Year 11) was awarded the highest score in the entire senior division — a remarkable result that made us all very proud.

Later that evening, our debating teams took to the stage with energy and determination. All but one team came away with a win (and even then, it was a one-mark loss) and several students were named Best Speaker in their rounds — an outstanding achievement. The students showed great teamwork, thoughtful arguments and respectful listening throughout the evening. Special recognition goes to our Debating Captain, Anushka, whose calm leadership and inspiring example continues to guide and encourage her peers. Anushka is also training to become an adjudicator with DAV — a wonderful next step in her debating journey.

Our students represented the school with pride, enthusiasm and a strong sense of community. They supported each other with kindness and encouragement, and their positive attitudes were noticed and praised by staff and adjudicators alike.

We look forward to more exciting opportunities ahead, including the University Law Debates, UN EVATT, MUNA and MOOTs. With such a passionate and dedicated group, the future is bright for Debating and Public Speaking at our school.

Naomi Weiler
Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator

Top Arts – VCD Excursion

The VCD excursion to Top Designs was very helpful for our Year 12 class, as we were able to see Year 12 folios and designs from last year that were in the top percentage of the state. On the excursion, some of us were also able to take our own pictures as research for our folio ideas. This enables us to have primary research for our folios, and the ability to interact with different aspects that may influence us.

I found this excursion really helpful as we could look through the folios. Doing this helped show us all different parts of our folios we can work on, as well as what we are trying to work towards. It was amazing to see the different directions students take and being able to see the development of their finals through their folios.

Lilley T, Year 12

Economics Excursion to Chadstone

On Thursday 15 May, our Year 11 Economics class went to Chadstone to investigate how behavioural economics plays out in the real world. We were able to investigate the many ways that businesses capture customers’ attention, from eye-catching window displays to special deals, which gave us insight to how we are often influenced by psychology and do not always act in rational ways.

Through this fun, but educating, experience we identified the key concepts we studied such as anchoring, vividness, herd behaviour and status quo biases. It was a very valuable experience that helped us take a break from classroom learning and get out there in the real world to get hands on experience about what we have been learning.

Matthew V, Year 11

Ryan R, Year 11

Year 9 City Experience

Welcome back to our Year 9 students from their unforgettable City Experience week. Over five busy days, students journeyed by train into the heart of Melbourne, immersing themselves in the vibrant rhythm of city life. Through collaborative group activities designed to encourage them to ‘see, think and wonder,’ students developed a deeper awareness of themselves, others and the world around them.

Throughout the week, students engaged in inquiry-based research tasks that challenged them to be creative and critical thinkers. Highlights of the experience included visits to iconic landmarks such as the MCG, Eureka Skydeck and the State Library of Victoria. Students also explored Melbourne’s arcades and laneways on a self-guided tour, experienced the immersive art of The LUME, and participated in a thought-provoking workshop with The Big Issue.

The week concluded with a reflective and meaningful chapel service at Collins Street Baptist Church, bringing students and staff together in the heart of the CBD to celebrate their journey.

Our students represented Casey Grammar with pride, curiosity and maturity. We commend them for their enthusiasm and the way they embraced every opportunity to grow and learn in the ‘real world.’

Kate Morgan
Head of Senior School