Events and Excursions Bring Joy to Students and Staff

It is my hope that all members of our CGS school community were able to enjoy their long weekend and spend quality time with their family and friends. It is hard to believe that we are already more than half-way through Term 1.

It has been so rewarding to watch our calendar filling up with events after our difficult 2020 school year. Last week our Year 2 students journeyed to the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens for their first excursion in over 12 months. To say it was a great success would be an understatement.

Many thanks to Mrs Grech, Mrs Duell and Mrs Harvie for organising this wonderful day for their students.

Resilience and Tenacity at District Swimming Carnival

Approximately 20 of our Years 3-6 students and Mr Batey recently braved the elements to compete in our District Swimming Carnival. I’d like to congratulate all our students for the resilience and tenacity they showed to brave the cold water on such a cool day.

Well done to all participants who did themselves and CGS proud.

Commissioning Service Brings Students Together

Our Junior School Commissioning Service was the first time Junior School students had gathered in the PAC since March last year and it was a fitting way to make a start to our PAC events once again this year. To our Year 6 cohort and Junior School Captains, I am sure it is a day that you will treasure for quite some time to come.

Sincere thanks to Mrs Riviere-Pendle for all the work she did to ensure the service was such a wonderful event. Congratulations to every Year 6 student on your commissioning as the leaders of our Junior School and to Mrs Mepstead, who was also commissioned as our new Head of Trist House.

Thanks to the parents and carers of our 2021 Junior School Captains who were able to join us for this important celebration.

Seeking Help from Families for Uniform Blitz

I’d like to please ask our parents and carers for their assistance with a uniform blitz. As you know during COVID last year, we relaxed our uniform expectations due to uniforms being unavailable or it being too hard for some parents to visit the uniform shop.

This year, however, our uniform standards have returned to pre COVID expectations. Please ensure your children arrive at school in correct uniform or they will receive a reminder in their Record Book. We hope to have every student in correct uniform by the end of this week.

Thanks, in advance, to our ever-supportive parents for your assistance with this matter.

Parent Information Evenings - 10 March

I am looking forward to welcoming parents and carers back onsite on Wednesday, 10 March, for our Parent Information Evening. Please be reminded that regretfully we can only accommodate one parent/carer per child, and we do ask that you wear a mask.

Please make your way directly to your child’s classroom where teachers will be looking forward to meeting with you at the following times:

6.00 pm for Prep, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 classes

7.15 pm for Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 classes 

Until then, stay safe and well.

Melissa Roberton

Head of Junior School

Students Describe Botanical Wonders

Our Year 2 students recently explored the Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne. It was great to be able to venture out on our first excursion in 12 months.

“I learnt about Aboriginal culture and we made some handprints using ochre rocks.” —Amreen

“We saw some bluebirds walking on the ground.” —Seerat

“I really liked when we went on the slide and Mrs Giles did too.” —Isabelle

“I enjoyed the playground when I stood on the poles.” —Luca

“I liked seeing all the plants at the gardens.” —Mikaela

“I saw a bandicoot crawling on the path and in the garden.” —Nelu

“We haven’t been on an excursion for a year. I liked the bandicoots and I liked sitting on the poles.” —Ethan

“I liked the digging sticks the Aboriginal people used to get their food.” —Wilson 

Mrs Kate Grech

Year 2 teacher

Years 3–6 Leaver House Meeting

Last Thursday we had our very first Leaver House meeting for 2021, and I have to say, we were all super excited to get together!

Our House Captains, Cameron and Finley, did a fabulous job introducing themselves and presenting our Year 3 students with their Leaver certificates. We sang our Leaver Chant, played Human Bingo and got to know each other a little bit more.

The highlight, however, had to be our very yummy cookies!

I can't wait to spend a lot more time with my Leaver Legends in 2021!

Mrs Bronwyn Kyne

Performing Arts Teacher, Head of Leaver House

Years 3–6 Trist House Meeting

On Friday, the children in Years 3-6 enjoyed their first House meeting for 2021. After being introduced to the 2021 Trist house captains Joanne Cherian and Zac Foster, we got to know each other, shared ideas and played some games.

The Trist members particularly enjoyed dressing up in blue for photos. 

We look forward to a fun-filled year.  

Ms Amy Mepstead

Head of Trist House

Years 3–6 Booth House Meeting

The Years 3 to 6 Booth students recently enjoyed attending their first House Meeting for 2021. We held the meeting in the VCE lecture theatre, so many of the students were excited about the new location.

We introduced our Year 3 students to Booth House and each received a certificate. We also practiced singing our Booth chant — there was lots of enthusiasm throughout the room! The students met ‘Billy Booth’, our team mascot. The Year 3 students were particularly eager to meet him.

We also introduced our Booth House captains, Harry and Ella. They addressed the students and told everyone about themselves. We welcomed our Booth staff, Maria Ramos, Ruth Grant and Samantha Parnell and took photos of each year level using our ‘Photo Booth’ holders.

The students were excited to learn about our new colouring competition, and we already have entries coming through. We ended the meeting with all the students dressing up in green, and after it finished each student was presented with a delicious ‘Booth’ biscuit!

Miss Sarah Nolan

Head of Booth House

Exceptional District Swimming Performances

Selected students from Years 3-6 recently attended the District swimming competition at Koo Wee Rup outdoor pool. Despite a last-minute venue change, the participants adapted quickly and performed exceptionally well in cold and wet conditions.

Casey Grammar School had students participating in individual and relay events and finished in fourth place overall. Congratulations to the students on their teamwork and support of one another, which was much needed in such chilly circumstances.

Thank-you to Ms Sharon Willett, Taylor Philpott and our Year 9 Sport Coaching students, Lolita Brousse De La Borde, Keely Mepstead and Isabella Pucovski, for their assistance with duties during the event. Thank-you also to the large number of parents, carers and friends who attended to support our students.  

Mr Jeff Batey

Head of Junior School P.E and Sport.

Instrumental Ensemble Program Introduced

This year we have established an Instrumental Ensemble Program for students in Years 5 and 6. The first couple of weeks have been spent experiencing a variety of orchestral instruments, and now the students have begun tuition on their chosen instrument. 

They are all very excited to be able to take home their instruments and practice ready for their performance at the end of the semester.

Mrs Bronwyn Kyne

Performing Arts Teacher, Head of Leaver House