Colour, Costumes and Creativity! 

On Friday, our campus transformed into a vibrant celebration of literature as students and staff embraced the magic of Book Week with a spectacular dress up day. The creativity of our school community was inspiring. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped bring so many books to life.

Book Week - Staff Picks

Book Week is a time to recognise the importance of reading - not just in school but in our everyday lives. Whether it is fiction or non-fiction, novels, poems, graphic novels or articles online, reading helps us understand the world around us, explore new ideas, connect with different perspectives or even escape reality for a while.

Books can transport us to other worlds, introduce us to unforgettable characters and challenge the way we think. They can make us laugh, cry, reflect and even inspire us to make a difference. This week is a chance to celebrate all of that - and to rediscover the joy of picking up a great book.

During our Week 4 assembly, Senior School students enjoyed a creative video showcasing the favourite books of teachers and other CGS staff members.

You can view the video here.

Girl Power in Engineering & IT

During our Week 4 assembly, with a focus on learning opportunities from Science Week, Year 10 student Jesmine spoke about her recent experience in the Girl Power in Engineering and IT program:

During the last week of Term 2, I had the honour of attending the University of Melbourne’s Year 10 Work Experience program, in conjunction with the Girl Power in Engineering and IT program. Throughout the week, I participated in activities surrounding structural engineering. From testing building pillar and column pressure, to the strength testing of a completely reimagined replacement for plywood and fibreglass, and learning how various buildings are constructed, I was able to have a taste of not only the life of a university student but also a researcher in that specific field.

On the Wednesday, we were provided with the opportunity to visit the South-East Suburban Rail Loop. After a guided tour through the construction zone, we were presented with four different activities. I participated in Mixed Reality firefighter training, Augmented Reality excavator operation training, VR simulations of buildings and the creation of a miniature circuit to power a model Tunnel Boring Machine simulation.

Not only did this program broaden my thinking, it also allowed me to explore different career pathways and to participate in hands-on, in-depth experiences in fields primarily dominated by men. This Year 10 Work Experience program includes a multitude of fields that belong to the Faculty of Science, and I highly encourage any Year 9s to apply next year, as it was an extremely valuable week.

Kate Morgan
Head of Senior School

Celebrating NAPLAN Excellence and Growth

At our most recent assembly, we proudly celebrated the achievements of our Year 9 students in this year’s NAPLAN assessments. Forty-seven percent of the Year 9 cohort received one or more awards for excellence or growth in Reading and Numeracy.

The growth awards recognise students who have shown exceptional improvement since their Year 7 NAPLAN results, highlighting the hard work and progress made over the past two years. Many students achieved recognition across both excellence and growth categories, bringing the total to 60 individual awards.

This achievement not only reflects academic excellence but also the dedication, persistence and commitment to learning that our students have demonstrated since Year 7. We congratulate all award recipients and commend the entire Year 9 cohort for their continued effort and success.

Ms Tegan West
Head of Teaching and Learning - Senior School

Year 11 Visual Arts

Art Creative Practice

During early commencement for Semester 2, our Year 11 Art Creative Practice class completed our first collaborative project. We were each allocated a ‘fragmented’ piece of a cat rendering and tasked with tracing and filling our own section. Initially, we were relieved by how multicoloured and structurally fluid the composition was, as it meant we could experiment with different art media and tones within our piece.

However, we soon realised that establishing a cohesive composition meant aligning our individual pieces with those around our borders. We addressed this by collaborating closely. We ensured that colours did not overwhelm adjoining sections and that strokes aligned across the joins. After the Art staff assembled the final Fragmented Unity, we were relieved to see how our collaborative efforts led to a successful composition we could all be proud of.

Andelib - Year 11 student

Visual Communication Design

The aim of the task was for the Year 11 VCD class to design and create a common room space. Earlier in the semester, students sent surveys to the Year 11 cohort to gather feedback on what students would like to have within their school, using this feedback when planning their common room designs.

This helped students understand what their year level would like to see in the space, creating multiple concepts and planning their final piece efficiently. The task allowed us to explore the field of environmental design, focusing on creating a functional and comfortable space for students. Producing 1-point and 2-point perspective drawings and floor plans demonstrated how the layout, furniture and atmosphere would look, showing both practicality and aesthetics.

Research and planning required the class to examine three architectural styles: Constructivism, Bauhaus and Neoclassicism. Each student then created a design for their own common room, incorporating a chosen style while making it modern. To develop the design, students experimented with different media and materials to produce a visually pleasing space that also maintained practical functionality.

The goal was to create a comfortable, inspiring environment that encourages focus, collaboration and student wellbeing. Overall, the task was enjoyable, allowing me to express my creativity while incorporating design movements within a modern context.

Jeevan - Year 11 student