Easter Services

While it seems like a long time ago now, Term 1 concluded with our two Easter services. My sincere thanks goes to the students and staff who helped with those services, including Mrs Grant, our Junior School RE Teacher, the Year 6 students, our Senior School volunteer readers, our Senior Vocal Group, the VCE Music class and Cooper in Year 12 who oversaw the technical aspects for both services.

In our Junior School, the Year 6 students performed a play that was presented in two sessions — for Prep to Year 2 and then Years 3 to 5. The Eggs and the Rabbits tried to convince the students that they were the ‘real reason’ for Easter however, by the end of the play, we were all reminded that the real reason for Easter is actually the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Our Senior School service highlighted the contradictions of the Easter story and the tensions it holds by focusing on five different symbols, including the cross representing the contradiction of a man of peace dying by violent means, and the resurrection stone representing the contradiction of death and life in the same story.

A highlight was the beautiful version of Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone prepared by Tilarni Senn, our vocal teacher, and the Senior Vocal Group. Throughout the service, we were also fortunate to have the VCE Music students provide musical accompaniment. 

Helping Backpacks 4 Vic Kids

On the final Friday of the holidays, 11 students and six staff members were able to volunteer at Backpacks 4 Vic Kids in Cranbourne once again. We have had a proud partnership with this organisation for a number of years and it was exciting to be able to provide hands-on support after the interruptions of the last few years.

This excursion is available to students in Senior School throughout the year and two of our Year 11 students, Holly and Taylah, who attended for the first time have shared their experience below.

On the day, we were given small tasks to complete to help the volunteers working in the warehouse. Some of the things we did included packing bags for different age groups with necessities such as clothes, toiletries, stationery — and we even packed some extra love in the shape of toys, tights and jewellery. We made some toiletry bags, too.

Being a part of Backpack 4 Vic Kids over the holidays was a brilliant experience. Organising packs to be sent to places around the country, like Ballarat and flood refuge centres in Queensland was a lot of fun. As teenagers, it was an eye-opening experience to know that we were making packs for people our age and younger who were in need. We’d thoroughly recommend this experience to anyone willing to help.

ANZAC Day

The school holiday dates this year mean we have not held a formal Casey Grammar ANZAC Service, but we have still acknowledged this important event in a number of ways.

At the end of Term 1, the Social Justice Group in Senior School and Harleen and Nethuli in Junior School sold ANZAC Badges at lunchtime to raise funds for veterans. Thank you and well done to our school community for raising $400.

Our Junior and Senior School Captains and Social Justice Captains also attended the RSL Service at Cranbourne War Memorial and laid a wreath on behalf of Casey Grammar.

Here is part of the reflection of that service that was shared at assembly by one of our Senior School Captains, Prabhu.

…The service also gave us an opportunity to reflect on how their sacrifice has contributed to how we are able to live today. I was grateful for the opportunity to extend our gratitude to those that not only lost their lives, but also to all the current veterans who have gone through many hardships with their families.

It was a privilege to attend this service again after not being able to gather to acknowledge this important day during the past two years. Thank you to Rachel, Prabhu, Noku, Meg, Murphy and Nethali for their attendance.

I trust that you and your families enjoyed the recent break and that you are ready for the many exciting events and activities that Term 2 will hold.

Every blessing as you begin this new term.

Monique Riviere-Pendle

Chaplain