CELEBRATINGthe Journey THE MAGAZINE OF THE CANBERRA GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL COMMUNITY ISSUE 104 30EDUCATING YEARS OF GIRLSTHE CHAPEL SINCE 19267 / WHAT 4 / 90TH MAKES ANNIVERSARY OUR ELC EXTRAORDINARY? CELEBRATIONS 10 /8 / 2018 TREADINGTHE GABRIEL THE FOUNDATION PATH TOGETHER – ENRICHING – ELC TO YEARTOMORROW 12 12 / THE 13 ROAD/ PASTORAL TO OXFORD CARE – 14 A /PATH SPOTLIGHTTO WELLBEING ON CREATIVE14 / POSITIVE AND PERFORMING EDUCATION AND ARTS LEARNING 20 / THROUGH PLAY 24 CONTENTS FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL . 3 SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE . 4 FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD . 5 A NEW JOURNEY . 6 30 YEARS OF THE CHAPEL . 7 THE EVOLUTION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT . 8 WHAT MAKES OUR ELC EXTRAORDINARY? . 10 TREADING THE PATH TOGETHER – ELC TO YEAR 12 . 12 THE ROAD TO OXFORD . 14 Above: Chair of the Gabriel Board, Mr David LEADING THE WAY IN GIRLS’ EDUCATION . 16 Holmesby at the ELC with his granddaughter, Olivia Lynch (front centre), joined by Year 12 students TOGETHER IN MUSIC – THE MUSIC ACADEMY . 18 (clockwise from left) Ellen Thurlow, Rosie Schweizer and Emma Khoo . See pages 10–13 to read more about SPOTLIGHT ON CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS . 20 the ELC and ten students’ journey to Year 12 . FROM THE PARENTS & FRIENDS ASSOCIATION . 22 ISSUE 104, 2018 LETTER FROM A GRAMMARIAN . 24 Published by Canberra Girls Grammar School NEWS FROM GRAMMARIANS . 25 Melbourne Avenue ARCHIVES . 34 Deakin ACT 2600 Australia P: 02 6202 6400 F: 02 6273 2554 E: [email protected] www.cggs.act.edu.au EDITORIAL Sally Wagnon LAYOUT AND DESIGN FAD Studios This issue of the Grammar Report celebrates the journey through our School and beyond. Cover: Maria Tsiokantas (Year 12 Robertson) revisits the Early Learning Centre where she commenced her educational journey at Canberra Girls Grammar School in 2005 . She is pictured with current ELC students, playing in the sandpit, September 2018 . 2 | GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 CELEBRATING the Journey FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL FOLLOWING THE THEME OF THIS GRAMMAR REPORT, CELEBRATING THE JOURNEY, I THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO REMIND READERS ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT JOURNEY OF OUR FOUNDRESS, MOTHER EMILY AYCKBOWM – IT IS EXTRAORDINARY IN ITSELF. Emily Harriet Elizabeth Ayckbowm (1836– From the earliest days after founding 1900), was determined to make a difference the Sisters of the Church, Mother Emily to the lives of those on the margins through was determined that the ‘great cause of education and equally determined to help education’ was to be their focus. Between rebuild her father’s church. To this end she 1870 and 1893 she built eight large schools founded the Church Extension Association for nearly 6,000 children. The schools (CEA) in 1864 and the Community of the were characterised by providing students Sisters of the Church in 1870. with a breakfast of either hot sweet tea or soup followed by a currant bun or pudding The CEA motto was Pro Ecclesia Dei – For the cooked in long tin cylinders. The ‘bun Church of God – which was later to become schools’ became renowned, not only for the motto of all Schools of the Order. Led “We must make our schools the practical response to the hunger of the by Emily, the followers, or subscribers, of poorest of poor children, but also for the and our teaching respected… CEA were trying to raise funds to refurbish quality education provided by the Sisters. and for this we must also her father’s (Reverend Frederick Ayckbowm) Mother Emily noted, “We must make our Holy Trinity Church in Chester, England. be diligent learners.” schools and our teaching respected…and for After realising that to teach or nurse the this we must also be diligent learners.” Mother Emily poor she would need a community of like- minded women, Emily became the first She also believed that to achieve education’s Novice of the Community of the Sisters of object, joy must be brought into a student’s in Hobart, Melbourne and Perth and the Church in a ceremony held in a small life, the ‘bun schools’ should value the eventually in Canberra via St Gabriel’s in Chapel in Kilburn, London. development of character and there should Waverley, Sydney. At the request of the be no elitism in schools. The Right Reverend Dr Radford, Bishop of Sisters were the first Anglican Goulburn, St Gabriel’s was moved to Glebe Order to obtain certificates as House (The Old Rectory of St John’s in Reid) registered teachers and the in 1926. On 8 May 1927 the Foundation Inspector of Schools reported, Stone was laid at Melbourne Avenue and on “The quality of the work is 13 September that same year, the building considerably above the average… opened with Sister Hilda as Principal. it is clear evidence of good The determination and courage shown by teaching and attention on the Mother Emily and the Sisters of the Church part of those taught.” is reflected today in the values of our In 1892, following the General School and the students we educate. In my Synod of the Dioceses in position as Acting Principal, and moreover, Australia and Tasmania, an Head of Senior School, I am constantly invitation was sent to the inspired by the unwavering strength and Sisters of the Church at Kilburn, resolve of young women. inviting them to establish Peter Milligan First VIII Rowing crew with their boat named after the foundress of our schools in Australia. Schools ACTING PRINCIPAL School, 2018 . were established initially GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 3 SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE The Board has also just completed an so I am sure excited students will fill the updated School Master Plan for both the new rooms in no time. Please let your Junior and Senior School campuses. After family and friends know about this great conducting an architectural competition, opportunity to join the CGGS community we selected Stewart Architecture as our and read more about the ELC in this edition Master Plan architects. You may recall of the Grammar Report. that Stewart Architecture designed our Belinda Moss wonderful new building, Yhuuramulum, CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. We now have a long-term plan underpinned by an exciting design proposal for the whole school and I look forward to sharing with Left: Belinda Moss – Board Chair . you the Board’s decisions about initial 1 Mrs Sue Hart – Board Deputy Chair . 2 Mr Jure Domazet . priorities from the School Master Plan. 3 Ms Bronwyn Fagan . THE CGGS BOARD WORKS HARD. THE I am also very pleased we are adding 4 Mr Alan Francis . 5 Ms Kerri Hartland . another three classrooms and a large staff TEN DIRECTORS ARE UNPAID AND GIVE 6 Dr Nick Hartland . room to the Early Learning Centre (ELC) THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO SERVE THE 7 Mrs Cath Ingram . in time for Term 1 2019. Demand for the 8 Professor Frances Shannon . SCHOOL. THE BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE additional ELC places has been very strong, 9 Mr Rod Sutherland . FOR THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF THE SCHOOL, WHILE THE PRINCIPAL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT OF CGGS. The Board appoints the Principal; ensures the viability and development of the School as an educational institution; approves the strategic plan and the master plan; 1 2 3 approves the annual budget and financial statements, including fees and loans; monitors the building program; monitors and mitigates risk; and ensures the School complies with its Workplace Health and Safety, legal and regulatory responsibilities. Most recently, our attention has been very firmly focused on one of our key roles, the 4 5 6 appointment of the Principal, following Mrs Coutts departure at the end of Term 3. After sustained work advertising, shortlisting, interviewing and undertaking contract negotiations, I was delighted to recently inform our community that Mrs Anna Owen will be our next Principal. She is an outstanding contemporary educator who is a great fit for the School. 7 8 9 4 | GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 CELEBRATING the Journey FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OUR OWN EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY just teach the curriculum and offer a range IS ONE FACTOR IN INFLUENCING of sporting and co-curricular opportunities THE SCHOOLING WE CHOOSE FOR – all schools do that. What girls’ schools “Schooling is so much more do is purposefully develop girls to OUR CHILD. ANOTHER IS THE DESIRE than academic outcomes understand their gender identity and to TO GIVE OUR CHILD THE VERY BEST shape their self-concept, self-efficacy, – certainly these open START TO LIFE BOTH AT SCHOOL AND and self-confidence so they develop the doors, but it is the other AFTER SCHOOL. knowledge and skills required to reject and skills that young women overcome gender stereotypes. As parents, we hear many views regarding develop in relation to their “Schooling is so much more than academic schools, with one current view being that belief in themselves that outcomes – certainly these open doors, men and women must work together after keeps the door open.” but it is the other skills that young women school, so it is progressive for them to attend develop in relation to their belief in co-educational schools. Literature from themselves that keeps the door open.” around the world tends to refute this view. the Junior School, to Ad Astra in the Senior Girls do better at school and after school if At CGGS we understand girls and young School, that are unique in Canberra. Our they go to single sex schools. It is boys who women. We give them every opportunity Boarding House is a home away from home, benefit most from co-educational schooling. to grow, to be creative and to smash the where girls from the bush, the city and stereotype.