Students Out and About with Excursions and Sport

It has been a busy couple of weeks with staff and students making the most of the opportunity to go on excursions and participate in large group activities. The Unit 3 Outdoor and Environmental Studies students were kept busy during their three-day camp in Wilsons' Prom.

Last week, Year 2 staff and students enjoyed the first Junior School excursion in 12 months when they visited Cranbourne Gardens. On the same day, Senior School travelled to Noble Park Pool for the House Swimming Carnival.

There was lots of great competition in the pool and a wonderful atmosphere was created by the House cheer squads, with background music provided by Shaq (Year 12) and Mr Collidge. Everyone had a most enjoyable day. Congratulations to Reid House on its resounding win.

SIS interschool sport has also resumed with teams competing in Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, and Indoor Cricket.

Senior School Debaters Represent their School in Style

Last week our Senior School debaters participated in a workshop facilitated by the Debating Association of Victoria (DAV) and competed in the first round of interschool debates on Thursday night.

I commend the students involved in these co-curricular activities and wish them every success as they continue to represent the School in their chosen field.

For more details on the first round of Debating Association of Victoria debates, please see the Debating report in the Senior School section of the newsletter.

Focus on Wellbeing as Camp Rescheduled

The Year 7 camp which was postponed due to the five-day lockdown has now been rescheduled to April. The Year 7 Wellbeing Day held last week was a great opportunity for the students to reflect on their transition into Senior School, the new friends they have made and all the skills they have developed in a very short time.

The Year 8 Wellbeing Day followed the students’ camp week and focused on positive relationships and the development of strong social skills. Students in Middle School (Years 7, 8 and 9) have a Wellbeing Day scheduled in each semester.

Consent Education Well Established

In recent weeks there has been significant discussion in the media regarding consent and sex education. There have been calls for schools to take on more responsibility for sex education and to deliver the lessons from a younger age.

At Casey Grammar School, our well developed and sequential Wellbeing and Health Programs provide regular and age-appropriate sex and consent education. While other schools are considering implementing Respectful Relationships programs, Casey Grammar School already has these programs well integrated into our curriculum.

Please see the article by Mr Peter Shepard, our Head of Wellbeing P-12, for more details on the various programs our students undertake in both Junior School and Senior School.

We also have strongly established wellbeing structures in place to support the wellbeing of all our students including support from Junior School classroom teachers, Heads of House in both Junior and Senior School, Wellbeing tutors and Wellbeing Support teachers in Senior School, Child Safe Officers, School Nurse and our School Psychologist Mr Alan Clarke.

Students are encouraged to speak to their preferred support person at school where they will receive respectful and appropriate education and advice.

Talking about consent regularly at home will also help normalise it and encourage your child to experience healthy relationships as they journey into adulthood. Dr Michael Carr-Gregg recently did a special report talking about consent and how you can talk to your child about the issue.

Nurturing Senior Students’ Academic Growth

Senior School parents and carers are reminded that the first round of formative assessment was completed last week. Please check SEQTA for the feedback teachers have provided to assist in your child’s academic growth in each subject.

Preparations are well underway for 2021 NAPLAN assessment. The NAPLAN tests will be held on the following days:

• Tuesday 11 May – Year 3 and 5 Writing test, Year 7 and 9 Reading test
• Wednesday 12 May – Year 3 and 5 Reading test, Year 7 and 9 Writing test
• Thursday 13 May – Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 Conventions of Language test
• Friday 14 May – Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 Numeracy test.

The tests will be held online. This week the lockdown browsers have been installed on the students’ computers.

Staff Professional Learning Program

As part of our commitment to the School’s ongoing improvement agenda, the teaching staff participate in regular professional learning sessions facilitated by the Crowther Centre. The Crowther Centre team returned to Casey Grammar last week to conduct further skill development sessions which followed on from the PD undertaken in January.

Shortlisted for National Playwriting Competition

Congratulations to our Drama and Media Studies teacher, Natalie Burns, who recently learned that her play, Embers, had been shortlisted in a National playwriting competition. Natalie’s work, which is one of three finalists, will be produced and performed in June.

What a thrill it will be to see her play come to life on the stage! We wish Natalie all the best in the finals.

Mrs Fiona Williams

Principal