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Welcome Back
I hope everyone had a great rest over the holiday break, as it's certainly been an eventful start to Term 3!
Students Who Excel
A big congratulations to Allysha W and Nick S (Year 10), who have been selected for the Monash Scholars Program 2023. This program is for high achieving students who will be invited to participate in a range of pre-university activities at Monash University over the next two and a half years.
Staff Who Excel
Congratulations to Vanessa Hodgkiss who, along with myself, was recently named as Most Influential Educators in Australia 2023. We are incredibly proud to be the only school in Australia to have two people on the list.
Camps
When young people look back over their years at school, it is often their experiences at school camps which they remember most fondly. Last week, our Year 8 students created some fond memories and new friendships at camp. Over the three days, the students enjoyed caving, white water rafting and tobogganing in the snow, as well as learning camp skills such as lighting a fire and teamwork on the initiative course.
During the school holidays, a lucky group of VCE students enjoyed a week in the snow on the VCE ski trip. It was a fabulous week where students were able to learn a new skill as well as make new friends.
On behalf of the students who benefitted from these camp experiences, I thank Mr Anthony Brown and Mme Kate Morgan who organised the camps. I am also grateful to the teachers who generously gave their own time to attend the camps and make them such a memorable experience for all students.
Road Closure
I would like to thank all parents for their patience and cooperation following the temporary closure of New Holland Drive. We will continue to manage traffic flow around the school as best we can.
Emergency Response
Unexpected events last week included the fire in the Salvation Army building on Monday and a significant gas leak near the school on Wednesday. I have sent our condolences and support to our neighbours and friends in the Salvation Army. I hope that, in the months ahead, they will be able to regroup and repair the damage to their building. Please note that, until further notice, we cannot use the Salvation Army car park for drop off and pick up of our students.
The gas leak near our school caused a lock-down of all students and staff. Everyone was kept safe while the gas leak was investigated and eventually capped. I would like to thank the staff and students for their cooperation during the lock down. In both of these emergency situations, CGS senior staff were in close communication with the emergency services staff on site and decisions were made in consultation with them. These decisions were quickly reported to the staff, students and parents. Thank you to all parents who respectfully followed the instructions of the emergency response team. In the event of emergencies such as those experienced by the school last week, our priority is to keep all members of our community safe. I am grateful for the cooperation of the school community in these matters.
Staff Day 17 July 2023
On the first day of term, staff were very busy completing a variety of professional learning modules. All teaching staff completed the last module of Teaching How to Learn (provided by Professor Sean Kang – Melbourne Graduate School of Education), we learned more about Data Storytelling from our Data and Analytic Coordinators (Mrs Ramos-Cahn and Ms Goonetilleke) and participated in a lively discussion about the Learning Behaviours we expect all Casey Grammar students to demonstrate (led by our Heads of Teaching and Learning Mrs Torcasio and Ms West). It was a very fruitful day of collegiality and learning.
LEAD Survey
In order to gather important information on the educational service we provide, we are again participating in the LEAD survey this year. I encourage all parents to complete the survey. A link to the survey will be sent to you via email this week. You have until Friday 26 August to complete the survey. Your opinion about the school and the education we provide is invaluable for future planning. I encourage you to put aside some time to provide your feedback.
NAPLAN Results
Individual NAPLAN results were released last week. Parents of students who sat the NAPLAN test earlier this year should have received a copy of their child’s results in the mail. We are currently analysing the data provided to develop our strategies regarding the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills into the future.
Fiona Williams
Principal
