The Crier - Term Four 2022

The Crier

Term Four Edition, 2022

In a term flush with memorable events, one of the most special was undoubtedly our involvement in the planting of a Lone Pine Tree situated at the front of the School

Kindly donated to us by Legacy, this tree seedling was one of 150 genetically connected to the original Lone Pine at Gallipoli

We were honoured to welcome Mr John Bitcon from Legacy Melbourne to deliver an address to students in Years 3-4 and Years 9-10. Other esteemed guests at the service included Mr Rob Brown OAM, as well as members of the Cobram Barooga RSL Sub-Branch.

Mr Bitcon covered the historical details of the Battle of Lone Pine, educating our students on the horrors that confronted the soldiers, but also of the great valour many displayed.

Mr Bitcon explained that the battle was

fought on a ridge of high ground on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, where the Turkish soldiers had cut down all but one very prominent pine tree for the purpose of lining their trenches and providing overhead protection from flying shrapnel and artillery shells

The result of four days of combat was incredibly devastating for our young nation, with 3,000 Australians losing their lives, as well as 1800 New Zealanders.

There was much heroism on both sides and seven Victoria Crosses were awarded to Australian soldiers – the greatest number of Victoria Crosses that have ever been awarded from one battle.

Following Mr Bitcon’s informative speech in the PAC, everybody moved outside to the front of the administration building for the ceremonial planting which was conducted by our Captain of Community Service Caitlin Welch and Mr Brown

Mr Bitcon said our own Lone Pine tree will be a continuous reminder of this battle and the ultimate sacrifices made by our countrymen.

“Planting this Lone Pine is a symbolic gesture that acknowledges the courage and sacrifice that was demonstrated by soldiers at Gallipoli It's so important that students have an awareness of these significant events in our history as they will be ultimately responsible for educating future generations,” Mr Bitcon said

We can’t thank Legacy and the CobramBarooga RSL enough for making this special ceremony possible. We welcome and encourage anybody visiting the School to take a look at the Lone Pine tree and beautiful plaque crafted by our gardener, Jane Overeem We have positioned the tree in the garden bed to the left of the front administration door.

Cobram AGS now shares Gallipoli connection

The Newsletter of Cobram Anglican Grammar School

John Bitcon and Rob Brown of Legacy pose with 2023 Captain of Community Service Caitlin Welch.

Farewell and good luck, Year 12 class of 2022

In Term Four, we said goodbye to our Year 12 students Their final day of school was one of great celebration, laughter and joy, as each student reflected on their school journey and thanked the teachers who have impacted them so positively, particularly during their VCE studies.

A few weeks later, the students and their families were joined by our staff for the Valedictory Dinner at Yarrawonga Golf Club Resort School Captain and 2023 Class Valedictorian Rory Brooker delivered a beautifully articulate and considered speech which he spent upwards of five hours preparing for. Rory thanked his classmates for helping to shape him into the person he is today, and implored each of them to go out into the world and be brave, take risks and not be deterred by failure

Principal Keith Willett commented that no matter how long each of these students had been at Cobram AGS, each individual has made an impression in their own unique way and contributed to our school community.

"These students are all fine young adults and have made a tangible impression on the very fabric of our School As they get set to embark on a new chapter, we look forward to watching them grow and prosper in the years ahead and they should know they will always be welcome back at Cobram AGS,” Mr Willett said

We wish the cohort well in their future endeavours

Sienna signs up to Auslan course to make a difference

while teaching Auslan as a subject is one option Sienna could explore in the future, the main reason she decided to throw herself into learning sign language was to be able to embed it into her primary teaching once she completes her teaching degree

moment and it was cool being able to interact with him at a very surface level,” Sienna said.

In ort Of o sign language and she has been intrigued by its use ever since heading down a teaching pathway herself

“My Year 5 teacher always embedded Auslan into our learning and as an adult, I have always been really interested in it Whilst on placement I added a few different signs into my lessons and it just worked really well,” Sienna told the Crier.

As it turns out, the integration of sign language into her teaching lessons went so well it inspired Sienna to register for an online Auslan course which she has now completed

Enjoying the introductory course so much, she now has ambitions to undertake a Diploma in Auslan to be able to teach it as a language in schools one day.

“I think learning Auslan is so important because it would not only provide young people with a great life skill, but it would also enhance their literacy skills. For example, Year 1 and Year 2 students begin learning their vowels and you can sign vowels on your fingers so doing basic exercises like that can gradually improve not only sign language skills, but also literacy skills," she said

While there was the obvious educational element attached to Sienna’s desire to learn Auslan, there was also a personal connection which prompted her curiosity to undertake the online course

“I also work at Berrigan Bake House casually and there’s a deaf gentleman who comes in every time I work and I’d always wanted to be able to communicate with him "

So what happened when he eventually came into the store?

"That first time of signing to him and ha l

Sam takes flight

A sliding doors moment on a family holiday in Caloundra Queensland has set Year 8 student Sam Stillard on a sky high career trajectory It was there Sam and his family decided to attend an airshow which just so happened to be attended by Australian Air Force Cadets

After speaking to the Cadets about the program, Sam’s interest was piqued, but it wasn’t until late last year that his mother reminded him about the Cadets which led to him eventually signing up in March this year

Sam told the Crier that there are several ranks Cadets move through in their training; Cadet, Leading Cadet, Corporal, Sergeant, Flight Sergeant, Cadet Under Officer and Officer

“To get your pilot licence you have to be 16 years old and a Leading Cadet which is the second rank. To make Leading Cadet you just have to finish basic learning in a classroom which for me is every Friday night in Shepparton from 6-10pm," Sam explained

"You’re also required to do at least six months in the program and have completed all the training," Sam added

Sam has every intention of working his way through the ranks and one day dreams of joining the Royal Australian Airforce (RAF) and becoming an F35 fighter jet pilot He has already enjoyed a small taste of sitting in an RAF plane when an RAF pilot took him and another Cadet up for a 30-minute sightsee in a Diamond DA 40 MG, which is a new plane the Airforce Cadets recently purchased for flight training

“He was kind of like ‘wow’ because I’d be serving him for so long and then suddenly I was able to actually communicate with him It certainly made doing the online Auslan course worthwhile,” she added.

Even though she had a momentous breakthrough with her customer from Berrigan Bake House, Sienna admits she still has plenty to learn

“I find that I’m able to sign well, but reading the signs of others is really hard, especially with deaf people who are so quick with their signs and have been doing it for years ”

Now that her online course has finished, Sienna is going to extra lengths to ensure she can remember the basic signs she has learnt so far

“It may sound a little strange but every time I say something, for example, the word colour, I would sign the word colour to myself so I’m constantly practising different signs for different words It’s kind of like my own personal cue for retaining the information.”

We look forward to seeing where Sienna’s Auslan journey takes her in the future!

Sam said within the Air Force Cadets exists a strong culture of mentorship that sees members of the RAF regularly provide advice and training to the younger generation of pilots

Although ranks from the Airforce Cadets do not filter through to the RAF, Sam said that several of the RAF pilots he has encountered have explained to him that based on their experiences, going through the Cadets program made it easier to pass officer training school which is needed to become an Officer and pilot

Having only recently turned 14, Sam still has to wait two years until he can become a Leading Cadet and fly a plane by himself And whilst he harbours dreams of one day flying an F35 in the RAF, Sam told the Crier that he also holds aspirations much closer to home if things don’t eventuate in the RAF

“Growing up on a farm, I’ve got a big thrill for farming as well as flying. In an ideal world, I would be in between the two occupations which would involve me joining the Airforce Command Reserve and travelling to Melbourne once a week ”

Where are they now? Q&A with former student Rhianna Harris

What years were you a student at Cobram AGS?

2011-2016

What are your fondest memories of attending Cobram AGS?

I was fortunate enough to make many lifelong friends during my time at Cobram AGS and am very blessed to have these beautiful friends in my life today

My favourite memory from my time at Cobram AGS took place in a Home Economics class in Year 9 Whilst attempting to bake cookies, I accidentally used a plastic baking tray and managed to melt the tray onto the rack in a brand-new oven

I look back on this memory with humour today as my friends still remind me of this incident on a regular basis. Needless to say; I am still not a skilled baker – whoopsie!

Who were some of the teachers or members of staff you looked up to and/or provided you with a great opportunity to succeed with your education?

I am very grateful to all of the wonderful teachers who facilitated my education during my time at Cobram AGS In Years 7 and 8, I had the privilege of being taught by the lovely Mrs White for my Science lessons Her bubbly and high-spirited personality exuded into her teaching style and her passion for Science helped to form my interest in this area

Mrs White was also head of VCE during my final year of school In stressful periods, Mrs White was always there to offer advice and encouragement during this time I cannot thank Mrs White enough for the education and support she provided for me during my years at Cobram AGS

Is there one achievement from your schooling that you are particularly proud of or enjoy looking back on?

In my final year schooling, I was very fortunate to obtain the role of School Captain alongside Allie Harvey. It was a great privilege being able to represent both Cobram AGS and the student body

I took much enjoyment in assisting with organising school events and representing the School at public events I took pride in ensuring that I was a mature, approachable and positive role model for the younger students

What pathway did you pursue upon completing your schooling at Cobram AGS? Did you take up full time work straight away, start an apprenticeship, go to TAFE or enter into a university degree?

After completing Year 12, I gained entry into Charles Sturt University in Albury where I studied and completed a Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine

During the course of my studies I was awarded with the Dean’s Award for Consistent Academic Excellence. I also graduated with an Executive Graduate Dean’s Award for obtaining a High Distinction Average during my studies.

Where are you now living and what are you doing for a career?

I am currently living on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland where I am now working as a podiatrist in private practise While I enjoy all aspects of podiatric practise, my lifelong passion of ballet dancing has extended into my professional career as dance podiatry is one of my specialty areas

I enjoy working closely with dancers to help strengthen their overall technique, provide footwear education, treat dermatological issues and assist in rehabilitating dance-specific injuries

Rhianna treating a patient at Innovation Podiatry in Queensland.

Cobram

Caitlin and co make their voices heard on rural youth issues

Year 11 student Caitlin Welch recently attended the Rural Youth Ambassador National Forum in Canberra Below is her reflection on the week-long experience

The Rural Youth Ambassador National Forum Program has allowed me to meet with key people in various sectors of the Government

It has allowed me to meet with important politicians that not only have control of my electorate but the future of the country and most importantly, the future of rural students such as myself

Throughout this journey over the past few days I have fostered connections with other Rural Youth Ambassadors from all around the country and while I have only just met them, it feels like I have known them my whole life

As well as meeting new people in the program, it has also allowed me to gain access to connections with very influential people throughout the Australian Government

The program has inspired me to have confidence in my ideas and my abilities all round, but most importantly, confidence in myself It has showcased to me that I can do whatever I want if I believe in myself and because of this program, I have a whole lot more belief

It has given me the platform to express the problems that not only I face, but all the other rural students like myself face. As a group we identified four main issues that we all face in rural areas

These included the lack of opportunities for rural students with both their education and future careers, a shortage of teachers, cultural diversity and the growing racism in rural communities, as well as mental health problems and inclusivity

After identifying and agreeing on these issues, we were able to come up with some solutions we thought would help to fix them, with the aim of presenting them to some of the most influential people in the country to hopefully create change for the generations to come

The program has also given me the opportunity to reflect on myself and really understand the person I want to become in the future As a result of this program, I will continue to have a strong commitment to my community and a strong commitment to upholding the values that I have learnt through this forum, which are:

1.To believe in myself and other rural students and their ability to achieve their dreams.

2 Connect myself and others to receive support to achieve their dreams.

3.Challenge myself and others to identify their dream that they wish to accomplish and help to achieve it

Do

Our Parents and Friends (P & F) Committee are asking for gently worn preloved uniform items to be donated for a 'pop up shop' which will be held at our welcome BBQ in Term One, 2023

Whether your child has outgrown their uniforms or no longer needs them, we would be happy to take them off your hands!

If you can contribute, please drop your clean uniform items into our front office after the 15th of January 2023, so the P & F can begin preparing for the pop up shop Thank you in advance!

Cadence and Lachlan claim ICAS top honours

During Term Four, we received amazing news that two of our students were Victoria’s top performers in their International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) assessments

Year 3 student Lachlan Tatnall claimed first place in Victoria for his English assessment, whilst Cadence Pang was declared the Victorian winner of Year 11 Mathematics. As recognition for their academic excellence, the duo were the recipients of ICAS medals, which are only awarded if the result is deemed meritorious, meaning participants can be the best performed student in their state/year level and still not receive a medal

ICAS is a school competition that inspires, celebrates and challenges millions of school students across Australia, New Zealand and the world The competition questions are set in modern, real-world scenarios where school students are assessed on their ability to apply classroom learning to new contexts, using higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills

For Cadence, this result had been years in the making considering she has been

entering ICAS competitions since Year 2. Despite achieving this goal that she has been working so hard to attain, Cadence was incredibly humble upon accepting her ICAS medal

"I’m very grateful for this award, I was definitely not expecting it,” Cadence told the Crier

Despite entering Science and English assessments in previous years, Cadence said she has always held a soft spot for Mathematics which made this result all the sweeter.

“I really enjoy numbers and the way they work, and my teacher Mrs Smith and also Mr Smith, they’ve really helped me develop my maths skills over the years,” Cadence added

Meanwhile, a love of reading led Lachlan to enter the Year 3 English assessment, and he described the feeling of winning a Victorian ICAS medal as “great”. Cobram AGS ICAS Coordinator, Mrs Melonie Smith, told the Crier she was incredibly proud of both students and especially noted Cadence’s perseverance

“Cadence has had so many high distinctions in these assessments so to finally get this medal is great recognition for her ICAS is an extremely high level of academic competition so both her and Lachlan deserve to be really proud of themselves for their dedication and drive for excellence.

“As a School we share in Cadence and Lachlan's pride and these results demonstrate that all our hard work is paying off,” she said.

Mrs Smith added that ICAS assessments can become an important building block for students wanting to add to their academic CV

“My aim is to build a resume over the years for the students who want to go to university and apply for scholarships and sitting ICAS assessments is a great way to do that,” she said

Library receives an injection of local war history

Year 11 pair scoop IN-GV Awards for math/science

At the beginning of December, Year 11 students Cody Lincoln and Cadence Pang attended the 2022 Infrastructure Network – Goulburn Valley (IN-GV) Math/Science Awards in Shepparton

The awards aim to recognise the achievements of high performing students within the Goulburn Valley region in the fields of Math and Science.

In a fantastic outcome, Cadence was awarded the Hannam Encouragement

Award for the Best Female Student, while Cody was presented with the Infrastructure Solutions Math Science Award Both students had to apply for these awards in order to be successsful.

Cadence and Cody's VCE teacher Mrs Melonie Smith attended the awards to proudly watch the duo be formally recognised for their academic excellence

Congratulations to both Cody and Cadence on this outstanding achievement and well-deserved recognition of their hard work.

Year 6 students leave their mark on Cobram AGS

Below is a reflection written by our Year 5/6 teachers upon their Year 6 students graduating.

We take this opportunity to thank you for being a wonderful group of Year 6s

2022 has certainly been a year full of learning, happy memories and unforgettable events that will remain with you We are proud of the way in which you have conducted yourselves and of how well you have responded to the challenges thrown to you this year

Your final years of Junior School were immersed in the endless COVID pandemic, Queen Elizabeth's death and countless staff changes

But the enjoyment and good times at the Swimming Carnival, Cross Country, Book Week dress up and being responsible the calves Cookie and Cream will hopefully be the memories which you remember most fondly And who could ever forget Year 5/6 camp in Canberra.

As you look back and reflect on your years of primary schooling, we trust that you have fond memories of fun times, memorable occasions, wonderful accomplishments and that you feel a sense of pride that you have made positive contributions to Cobram Anglican Grammar School

Lastly, we would like to leave you with some advice:

Respect everyone you meet, work hard, never give up and always BE YOU

Farewell and all the best for a bright future, Mrs Williams and Mrs Rathbone, with Mrs Lawrence and Mr Watkins.

Camp in the capital for our Year 5 and 6 students

Below is a speech written by Year 6 students Riley Tinker and Harlin Robbins which was delivered at Junior School Assembly

Hello and good morning everyone, my name is Riley Tinker, and this is my friend Harlin Robbins Today we will be talking about the amazing Year 5/6 camp. On this camp, we went to many memorable locations in Canberra The long and loud six-hour journey up to Canberra was exhausting, but the reward was worth it.

The first stop of the four-day camp was the War Memorial Before we could enter, we were split into four groups and had a brief explanation of what the soldiers had to endure Whilst we were there, we learnt more about World War One and the Anzacs.

Other than learning about a war, we discovered more about our home, Australia, at the National Museum of Australia. Before we could enter we got split in to two groups In group two they did a little scavenger hunt to find a historic person on the card they were given. After finding their historic person, they had to read out the card and the person they got After heading upstairs, they had to find three different items; one to make flour, one to start a fire and one for defence In group one they had learnt all about the history of different parts of Australia After learning about Australia, they were asked to go outside and wait for group two to finish their two activities

After finishing at the Museum, both groups went to the accommodation at Eagle Hawk Park, where they were told their rooms and got to choose their beds. After finishing their second day of camp, both groups got up and got ready for breakfast before departing Eagle Hawk park at 7:30 am for the CSIRO Discovery Centre to learn about different parts of science

After learning about different parts of science, we were tasked with a scavenger hunt to see which group out of two, three or four could find the most facts and answers. The winner received a magazine with different activities and puzzles to do

After a group of two had won the competition, both group one and two boarded the bus and headed to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to participate in different sporting tasks, such as skiing, basketball, wheelchair racing and many more fun activities.

After spending about one hour at Sportex, they boarded the bus and headed to National Reconciliation Place, but before they could learn about the Aboriginals and their struggle, the students of both classes had to get into groups of three and choose if they wanted a margarita, Hawaiian or meat lovers’ pizza Then they were ready to learn about the Aboriginals

On our final day of camp, we got to visit the New Parliament House where we learnt about the process of making laws in Australia After finishing their education session, both group one and two got to see the Senate and House of Representatives and ask their most desired question about the Government

After asking our questions, we were fortunate enough to have frozen yoghurt and got to see a Lego version of Parliament House Before saying goodbye to beautiful Canberra, we got to say goodbye to Shawn The Prawn, which if you don’t know, is a fossil in the floor at Parliament House

Then both groups got to board the bus and start their long and quiet journey back to School After four busy days of learning and fun activities, most of the students were asleep and passed out due to exhaustion

Cobram Anglican Grammar School

Riding the wave of Year 9 camp

The following reflection was written by Year 9 homeroom teacher, Mrs Sharonlee Post.

What a way to end the year, on a threeday camp to Phillip Island! We started off exploring Churchill Farm to learn a bit of history about Phillip Island's beginnings

This was followed by an Antarctic experience and then it was off to see the famous little penguins It was blowing a gale but our kids stuck it out to have this memorable experience

The next day the weather was amazing, (thank goodness) as we were off on a surfing experience eager to catch a nice swell. Who knew these bush kids could catch waves like Layne Beachly!

After a big hike we all needed some sugar So we made a pit stop at the lolly shop in Cowes, followed by some friendly competition at the local tenpin bowling complex We then split into two groups, teachers included, to do some laser tag There was something satisfying about that game!

That night we were treated to a slow cooked feast by local legend Dave Our last night on camp was filled with card games and laughter So much fun was had by all that even the teachers forgot it was bedtime.

Our last day was filled with cute, native wildlife and yummy chocolate, followed by a long trip back home

The students went home with memories of a great end to 2022

Our new road safety guardian

If you drop your child/children off to school in the morning or pick them up afterwards there is a possibility you would have noticed that we have a new pedestrian traffic controller at the crossing While this role was previously shared amongst our Education Support staff, during Term Four we welcomed Marilyn Barrs to this role

Marilyn comes to Cobram AGS with vast experience as a traffic controller. She began volunteering back in 2011 at Western Port Secondary College in Hastings She is a newcomer to town and only moved to Cobram with her husband back in April Following a family tragedy, Marilyn said working at Cobram AGS is helping her to find purpose each day

“I love helping the kids, I love meeting the kids and it’s lovely saying hi to the parents; it’s the community aspect of the job that I really enjoy It also just makes me feel good and I feel like I’m doing something useful instead of sitting at home,” Marilyn said

Marilyn added that in her brief time volunteering at Cobram AGS, she has had nothing but pleasant dealings with our school community

“Everybody here is so friendly and the students are just wonderful, they’re very polite. And the school is beautiful, it’s very well kept,” she said

Marilyn arrives at School each morning at around 8 20am and helps our students safely cross the busy Campbell Road until roughly 9 05am She told the Crier she generally finds the afternoon rush busier than the morning shift as everybody is usually in a rush to get home

We are thrilled to have Marilyn on board with us to fulfil this important role and would like to extend a warm welcome to her on behalf of the Cobram AGS community If you see Marilyn at the crossing next year, please don’t hesitate to say hello and introduce yourself!

Community Corner

Cobram Antique Fair

It was fantastic to see a mix of students from Year 8 and Year 11 give up their time over a weekend to volunteer at the Cobram Antique Fair

The students helped out by making sandwiches, serving patrons food, coffee and tea, as well as selling raffle tickets on the door It was great to be involved and give back to our community through a popular event such as the Antique Fair and the students involved certainly gained a lot from the experience

Cobram Community House Christmas Appeal

On the second last day of Term Four, we held a casual clothes day and gold coin donation for the Cobram Community House Christmas Appeal This fundraiser was initiated by Mr Barnes' Year 9/10 Services class. Thank you to our families who donated and helped raise $346 80

This money will help Community House purchase Christmas gifts for

those doing it tough in our community Community House CEO Christine Osborne attended Cobram AGS to accept our donation and offer her thanks.

"I acknowledge the students and staff of Cobram AGS for this very generous donation It's great for students to get involved in altruistic endeavours and give back to their local community," Mrs Osborne said

Late in Term Four, our 2023 Student Leaders attended Cobram Woolworths for a 'Grocery Grab' This meant encouraging shoppers to purchase one extra item during their shop so it could be donated to those in our community most in need

The generosity of our local community was well and truly on show as they donated enough items to account for 36 full shopping bags! These grocery bags were then collected by Moira Foodshare who were planning to divide the items into hampers to bring some Christmas cheer to those needing some assistance this festive period.

Cobram Woolworths Grocery Grab

We were incredibly proud to have our two 2023 School Captains in Harrison Brooker and Cadence Pang compete at the Cobram Lions Club Youth of the Year Competition last week

The pair acquitted themselves superbly throughout the competition which resulted in a magnificent outcome for our School, with Cadence being crowned the Club Final winner as well as the Public Speaking winner!

Cadence and Harrison were asked to respond to a series of impromptu questions such as if they thought the Royal Family would be as relevant in the future and if their grandparent’s generation were better off than their own.

They then had the opportunity to present on a topic of their choosing which they had prepared for

Cadence spoke extremely well about the use of technology in school, including the positives and negatives associated with it, whilst referencing relevant data to make her point. She also referenced her family's personal experience in the war when responding to one of the impromptu questions, showing her ability to think quickly to make a connection with the topic

Cadence told the Crier that the night was a great learning opportunity to think laterally under pressure, and said the result took her by surprise

“It was a really fun experience and a great opportunity to practise my public speaking in front of a crowd I was definitely surprised to win both categories as the other students I competed against spoke really well Overall, it was just great to be involved in a competition such as the Lions Club Youth of the Year and I’m really appreciative of Lions for putting on the event and supporting young people in our community,” Cadence said

Harrison spoke of the growing need for clean energy and elaborated on how nuclear energy may provide a solution moving forward. He discussed how nuclear energy works compared to other sources of renewable energy and covered important aspects to the debate such as the number of deaths that have occurred as a result of nuclear, plus the amount of energy it releases compared to how much greenhouse gas it produces

Both Cadence and Harrison presented their responses with thoughtfulness and confidence and should be proud of the way they represented themselves and our School

Excitingly, Cadence can now look forward to representing Cobram Lions Club at the next level of competition which is set to take place in Yarrawonga during Term One, 2023

The end of an era – farewell Mrs Seccull and Mrs Hargreaves

The conclusion of the 2022 school year signalled the end of an era at Cobram AGS, as we sadly bid farewell to two of our longest serving teachers. Mrs Tricia Seccull and Mrs Chris Hargreaves have both decided to retire and commence the next stage of their lives

In a remarkable effort, Tricia has been teaching for 43 years, 23 of which have been at Cobram AGS! Being an inaugural teacher when the School opened its doors in 2000, Tricia has almost become a part of the furniture and has nurtured many of our students spanning generations.

She has taught RAVE during each of her 22 years at Cobram AGS, as well as other subjects including Physical Education, Health, Mathematics, English and VCE Business Management amongst others

Upon finishing her teaching journey with Cobram AGS, Tricia was understandably nostalgic and is as well placed as anyone

to comment on how the School has involved since its inception

“I often refer to Cobram AGS as MY school and I state that most proudly Although its growth was slower than was initially hoped for, Cobram AGS is now recognised in the area as a worthy place of learning, with a sound reputation and I am extremely honoured to have been part of it from its beginnings,” Tricia said

Chris meanwhile, has been teaching for 30 years with 14 of those at our School, mixing between the primary and secondary setting In recent years she has focused purely on teaching English.

Principal Keith Willett wished both individuals well in retirement and thanked them for their contribution to the School

“On behalf of all of the students, teachers and families that these two wonderful educators have worked with, both at Cobram AGS and at other schools, I extend my thanks, congratulations and best wishes for long and healthy retirements,” he said

Cadence crowned Cobram Lions Youth of the Year!

Connecting once again

After two years of staying apart, the Cobram AGS community embraced the return to connectivity at our muchanticipated Open Night and Family Barbeque.

More than 200 members of the school community gathered to explore the campus, eager to celebrate a magnificent school year

Principal Keith Willett said the Open Night was a dual-purpose event, with newly enrolled families invited to attend as part of the extended school network

"The event also gave us a fantastic opportunity to showcase our classrooms which were beautifully decorated with the work of students, who put an enormous amount of effort into ensuring each parent who walked through the door experienced a true taste of what that particular class had been learning and creating over the course of 2022,” Mr Willett said

There was a variety of entertainment on show, including a special performance from the School Ukulele Club, which was the group’s first experience playing in front of a live audience under the guidance of their teacher Trish Chmiel.

There was also a wide range of entertainment and activities with a long queue for Funky Faces face painting throughout the night, while Mr Jon O’Dwyer had the gym pumping and tunes flowing, as the doors were opened to anybody interested in trying out the new gym equipment acquired over the past couple of years

An ensemble of Year 10 and Year 11 students volunteered their time in the Foods Room to ensure nobody went home hungry

They relished the challenge of cooking over 200 sausages, 100 chicken steaks and 150 burgers for parents, family members and friends, ably supported by Mrs Carolyn White, Mrs Sharon Bird and Principal Willett

Year 10 student Madison McDiarmid assisted in the kitchen and said school events such as the Open Night were invaluable to improving the overall school experience for students and families alike

“It’s so important that we have events like these as it provides our families with a great opportunity to get to know each other better and form new relationships,” she said

“It was also pretty heart-warming seeing our Junior School and Senior School students mingling over the course of the evening It was fairly evident that our connectivity and school spirit is really starting to grow again after the COVID years.”

Cobram Anglican Grammar School The Crier – Term Four, 2022

Cobram Anglican Grammar School The Crier – Term Four, 2022 Cobram Anglican Grammar School The Crier – Term Four, 2022

From Mr Keith Willett

Dear families and guardians,

I write to you with the 2022 school year now consigned to the annals of history When I reflect on 2022, it dawns on me how lucky we have been to have finally returned to a normal education setting, with COVID restrictions hopefully in the rear-view mirror

We trust this much anticipated return to face-to-face learning has not only helped enhance learning outcomes for our students, but also reengaged them both socially and emotionally after a testing couple of years without the personal interaction we all crave as human beings

It is difficult to succinctly summarise what has been an incredibly busy Term Four but the word that sticks out like a beacon is pride I had the great pleasure and fortune of watching our Year 6 students and Year 12 students recently graduate

Seeing the respect, care and empathy our staff have for these students that they nurture and educate every day brings me back to the fact we have great people here at Cobram AGS – teachers and support staff who are fully invested in setting up our students for success, not just academically, but in general life

Anglican Identity

With Ms Shea Doyle

In the blink of an eye another term and with it another school year, is coming to an end. Term Four has been full and productive We farewelled our Year 12 cohort with several celebrations including a celebratory liturgy shared with family, friends, staff and other members of the Cobram AGS community

The theme of the service was one of hope and encouragement Bishop Clarence offered inspiring advice to our young people to go out into the world and seize all the opportunities available to be the best they can be.

Early in the term, taking inspiration from the Gospel of Luke and the story of Jesus healing 10 men with leprosy, our Chapel services encouraged those present to reflect on the things they were thankful for These services gave students the opportunity to practise their gratitude by adding notes to a gratitude ‘sticky wall’

teachers and support staff who are fully invested in setting up our students for success,

It’s always a wonderful celebration when our young people formally complete their education journey with us and we wish these students nothing but the best in whichever pathway they decide to pursue in the future

While there naturally comes a sense of sadness that our Year 12s and some of our Year 6s are leaving our School, we can be excited to watch these young people grow and develop from afar, knowing they have contributed to our story

What has also stood out to me this term has been the willingness of our students to once again grasp the various opportunities available to them in all aspect of school life Our school spirit is very much alive and well and we have remained committed to meeting our core values of Integrity, Endeavour and Community

This sense of community was so vibrantly on display at our Open Night in the middle of the term and it was fantastic seeing so many students, family members and friends unite to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate what has been a brilliant school year.

Just recently I had the pleasure of assisting some of our Year 8 and Year 11 students who volunteered their time on a weekend to help out at the Cobram Antique Fair at Cobram Civic Centre What struck me at this event was how lucky we are as a School to have young people of this calibre who are committed to not only improving themselves, but also willing to serve others.

Following this event, these students received some high praise from Leanne Fitzpatrick from Cobram Historical Society which read: “We received fabulous feedback about the students representing the School Your teaching faculty should be very proud of the accommodating, well-mannered young people who represented the School to such a high standard ”

I think this a fitting note to end my report on and encapsulates the standards our entire School must endeavour to strive for in all that we do

In closing, I sincerely hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and holiday period Please stay safe and I will look forward to welcoming back our students hopefully reenergised and ready to embrace the 2023 school year.

In their final chapel service, our Senior School cohort celebrated the season of Advent, which begins the Church’s liturgical year Advent is that time of the year when we prepare to welcome Jesus into the world and our lives again Our 2023 student leaders led the service, lighting the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love and offering prayers and reflection on the significance of each

We were also blessed to partake in a whole school Christmas Chapel, and watch a wonderful presentation of the Nativity by our Year 2 students, under the direction of their RAVE teacher, Mrs Seccull

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all members of our school community a happy, safe and blessed Christmas I hope you enjoy this wonderful time of worship and celebration with your loved ones

A closing prayer God our loving Father, as our 2022 school year comes to an end, we thank you for guiding us through the challenges and triumphs You call us now to get ready to welcome Jesus into our hearts this Advent season. We pray that we may grow in faith and love Let us remember that when the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with the flocks, then the work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, to heal those broken in spirit, to feed the hungry, to release the oppressed, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among all peoples, to make a little music with the heart And to radiate the Light of Christ, in all that we do and in all that we say

We ask this through Jesus Christ.

Amen

With Mrs Rathbone, Ms Willmott and Mrs Clark

Term Four always proves to be a busy yet exciting time as we head into the end of the year and Christmas period. This term, teachers have had the opportunity to report on all of the wonderful learning and achievements of the semester and identify further areas for growth.

In the first full year of face-to-face learning that we've had for some time now, planned activities for students remained focused on experiences that involved connection with one another and their teachers, in a focused and considered manner.

Foundation students had the opportunity to travel to Mulwala to celebrate their first year of school at Tunzafun. It was all smiles at the Year 1/2 disco and sleepover, and they also relished going to Federation Park for some play time before walking down to the Community Cinema to watch the film Strange World!

It's worth noting that Mrs Chmiel also worked incredibly hard with the Foundation to Year 2 students over the course of the term, and they

Senior School Report

With Mrs Carolyn White and Mr Jon O’Dwyer

Term Four saw our Year 12 cohort start a very busy few weeks including study sessions over the September holidays in order to ready them for their VCE exams They prepared to say ‘goodbye’ the night before Celebration Day and conducted a whole school final assembly with the theme being Barbie and Ken Here they had the opportunity to thank their teachers for their efforts and dedication over their many years of schooling and celebrated this with their families at a morning tea afterwards

A couple of weeks later, we held our Valedictory Dinner at the Yarrawonga Golf Club and named Rory Brooker our 2022 Valedictorian With exams now completed and ATARs released, our Year 12s can begin to finalise their future career options Good luck to all our alumni!

Our Year 10s kick-started their term by heading off to Phillip Island! They enjoyed surfing lessons, seeing the penguins, learning about the region through the Arctic experience, hiking and spending time with their peers

subsequently delivered a fantastic performance of the ‘Gingerbread Man’ This special experience was viewed by the remainder of the Junior School students, parents, family members and friends

Mrs Seccull’s annual Nativity play was a highlight and available for all Year 1 families to watch on YouTube Sadly, this will be Mrs Seccull’s last year directing the play We wish her all the best in retirement! The Year 2s were selected to perform their Nativity play in front of the Junior School and parents at Christmas Chapel

It has also been a big term for our Year 6s, and their last as Primary School students Their term highlights included a three-day camp to Canberra where they learnt about Australia’s history, our electoral commission and our involvement in several wars

While non-stop, this was an enriching and informative experience for the children In the last week of term, the Year 6 cohort and their families convened in the PAC for their

Graduation Ceremony This was a great way to reflect on what has been a fantastic year of learning, whilst celebrating our graduating students and all they achieved not just this year, but throughout their primary school journey There were certainly many proud family members, friends and teachers watching on

In closing, it is important to mention that the relationships that are formed at school provide a sense of belonging and safety for each student It is these relationships that form the basis of successful learning

We know that throughout remote learning these relationships were different and now that we have returned to school, we continue to appreciate the time we have together faceto-face. Our students are happy to be with us and we are happy that they are experiencing a tranquil and purposeful term of learning

We wish everybody a safe Christmas and restful holiday period spent with loved ones.

Over the course of the first three days of the last week of term, the Year 9s also visited Phillip Island to experience similar attractions but in much warmer conditions. Our Unit 1/2 Outdoor Education and Environmental Studies class stayed overnight at Winton Wetlands to expand their knowledge of a sustainable local environment Our Year 8 students have also been spending their PE classes in Yarrawonga, canoeing on the lake and improving their paddling skills, courtesy of Sporting Schools funding from the Australian Government

Our Year 9/10 students completed their small business project for the Agriculture/Horticulture Business elective, featuring a ‘canteen’, milkshakes for Year 5/6s and a seedling sale The Year 11 cohort completed their school year by engaging in barista and RSA courses, which will hopefully lead to employment for them in the wider community at many of the fine hospitality venues we have available.

Our Open Night welcomed families to enjoy dinner with the Cobram AGS community, which was well attended We have also had many of our students out and about in the community Our School and House Leaders for 2023 were announced and they participated in the Christmas Grocery Grab with Ms Doyle at Woolworths, with many members of the public donating to fill 36 shopping bags which were then passed on to Moira Foodshare for distribution amongst our community.

Our students represented the School at the Cobram Antique Fair, helping to prepare and serve food to those attending the event. Our School also planted a Lone Pine seedling to commemorate Remembrance Day with the Cobram Barooga RSL SubBranch. Well done to all our participants who entered submissions into the Cobram Show The Pavilion was still open and our students celebrated great success with their entries

We have celebrated some individual successes of our students, which are covered in detail in this edition of the Crier. We congratulate these students for their terrific efforts over the year.

As we conclude a busy and successful 2022, we wish all our families a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year

Team Cobram AGS Sports Recap

With Mr John O’Dwyer

Hello and welcome to my last sports report for the 2022 school year. What an amazing year it has been which was duly reflected at our Presentation Day, where 28 students received awards for their outstanding results at State/National level in their respective sports

Not to be outdone, we had a number of students perform at local, divisional and regional levels, which is simply outstanding

Over Term Four, the following achievements were recorded by our amazing students:

Athletics took precedence at the start of Term Four, where we had a number of our Junior and Senior School students do extremely well The School had four Junior School students qualify for the State competition, being: Heidi Quick (Year 4), Kohen Verner (Year 4), Isabelle Haberfield (Year 5) and Tennille Kautai (Year 6) – who was unable to attend due to State touch football commitments.

Xavyer Hyde (Year 1) broke two club records at the Barooga Little Athletics Club, both in middle distance running, with one standing for 17 years and the other 10 years!

Badminton stars claim All Schools bronze medal

Emily Orsida (Year 11), Cadence Pang (Year 11), Natasha Smith (Year 11) and Caitlin Welch (Year 11), along with Mrs White, who managed/coached the side, won a bronze medal at the All Schools Badminton State Championships in Melbourne!

Rory Campbell, Elijah Everingham, Jeremy Packer, Kyden Rodda and Sam Trembath played in the Hume Region Year 8 Boys Basketball Championship in Albury, supervised and coached by Mr McConnell, finishing in fourth place

Bridie Iskov (Year 3) and Jean-Marie Jonker (Year 4) both competed in the Victorian Gymnastic Championships at Geelong, for their gymnastics club (Albury and Mooroopna respectively)

Isabel Stirling (Year 6) has been awarded a scholarship for 2023 to be involved in the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, which is based in Albury.

Jed Flanagan (Year 4), Kohen Verner (Year 4), Archie Paterson (Year 5), Oliver Benson (Year 5) and Kohen Haddrell (Year 5) all made respective U12 representative sides for the Murray Valley Cricket Association against the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association

Thanks to the Sporting Schools funding, which allowed our Year 7 cohort to receive some professional tutelage and our Year 8s who were able to experience some canoeing/kayaking for their Physical Education studies

Unfortunately, as most would be aware, we were unable to get our FoundationYear Six swimming program up and going.

Thanks also to the Sporties Group for their generous contribution to our sports awards for Presentation Day These awards recognise outstanding achievement at no less than State involvement, either trialling, competing and succeeding in individual and team aspects of their chosen sport, both internally (school based) or externally (outside of school).

As you can see, another unbelievable catalogue of sporting achievements by our talented students! Let's hope we can reproduce similar results in 2023!

Congratulations and well done to all Have a great holiday, safe Christmas and wonderful New Year! God bless and take care.

Year 11 students Emily Orsida, Cadence Pang, Natasha Smith and Caitlin Welch had the privilege of competing in the All Schools Victoria Secondary Girls Badminton Championships at MSAC in Melbourne

In an incredible effort, the team walked away with the bronze medal, claiming third place out of 20 schools (including both government and independent schools)

This result capped off a stellar year of badminton performances by the quartet who also managed to win the Hume Region event and were the best performed country team at the SSV State Championships.

In terms of the tournament format, the team played three singles games and two doubles against each opponent In the first round, they competed against MacRobertson Girls High School (won all five games), East Doncaster (won four of five), John Monash Science School (won all five) and Nossal High School (won one of five) After securing their passage through to the semi-finals, the girls unfortunately went down to Toorak College.

Any disappointment however was quickly replaced by a feeling of elation after the girls defeated Wesley College in the bronze medal play off, winning four of

their games comfortably! The player statistics from the end of the first round had our four girls ranked third, fourth, fifth and sixth respectively in the number of games and points won, highlighting a fantastic team effort with even contributions across the board!

A special mention must go to Mrs Carolyn White who went above and beyond her duty by driving the girls down to Melbourne the night before so they could compete early the following morning They also faced some pretty treacherous conditions returning home due to flooding at the time. Thankfully the trip was worth the effort!

Kohen keeps chipping away

In Term Four, Kohen Haddrell (Year 5) and Harry Thompson (Year 6) competed in the School Sports Victoria Primary State Golf Championships at Gisborne In a terrific effort, Kohen finished in 20th position overall, making him the best performed athlete from the Hume Region Harry was not too far behind him, finishing in 52nd place

The tournament format was one round of stroke play over 18 holes Kohen recalled a lot of great scores on the day, but said that many of the competitors ran into trouble on certain holes Despite finishing the tournament with the best scorecard of any student from the Hume Region, Kohen wasn’t entirely satisfied with his efforts.

The Olympic dream burns for Charlotte

Over the course of 2022, Year 8 student Charlotte Dickins has been making great strides in the world of horse competition A member of the Horse Riding Clubs Association of Victoria (HRCAV), Charlotte has been travelling to horse clubs across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia to compete in a range of disciplines such as showing, dressage and jumping. Following each event, competitors get a score which counts towards their overall score on a ranking table.

In mid-November, Charlotte’s hard work and dedication were rewarded when she was named the HRCAV’s Level Three Champion Rider at their awards ceremony in Melbourne. She also finished top 10 in showing for all levels of competition out of hundreds of competitors. While she knew she was around the mark, Charlotte told the Crier she was not expecting to take home the major award.

“A leaderboard gets posted every now and then and I was sitting around third place the last time I checked it and then mum got a letter saying I won the Level Three Champion Rider,” she said.

Charlotte told the Crier she was “pretty proud” to be named the Champion Rider in her division She explained that Event Level One is the highest grade of competition, while Level Five is the lowest Competitors are challenged to work their way up the levels as they progress as riders

Not only was Charlotte riding against riders from three different states, but

“I didn’t play very good It was a shortened course and I’m used to playing longer ones so it was just hard trying to adjust,” Kohen told the Crier

Despite facing some challenges on the day, it shouldn’t get lost on Kohen that he has only been playing golf for 18 months, making this achievement of being the best player from the Hume region all the more credible

He told the Crier that he got into golf courtesy of his dad’s passion for the game

“My dad and his mate were playing a lot and then they started a clinic where juniors could come and have a try of golf so I did that and just loved it from there basically,” he said

Kohen’s home course is Cobram-Barooga and he aims to play at least once, if not twice a week

He often plays pennant with his dad which sees him travel to other courses such as Deniliquin, Finley, Tocumwal and Corowa

He considers his short game as his biggest asset at this stage of his golfing development, naming putting and chipping around the green as his best skills

Being relatively new to the sport, what is it about golf that has captured Kohen’s imagination?

“You’re independent but you can also play on a team which is fun because you have a group and you’re not just out there on your own,” he said

We can’t wait to watch Kohen’s golf career evolve as he chases further tournament glory

she said she was often competing against riders much older and more experienced, making the feat all the more impressive Along with her obvious talent, Charlotte’s dedication to her riding is also something to admire. In winter she spent virtually every weekend traveling around the countryside with her family and trusted horse, Nilton Spielberg. Her love of riding has taken her to places such as Tatura, Narrandera, Melbourne and surrounds

To prepare for competitions, she typically rides at home four times a week, usually for an hour or longer. She told the Crier that for her, riding horses is a way of life, stating she has “forever had them around”

Although Charlotte has only been participating in HRCAV events for three years after being introduced to them by her mother Stacey, she has grand ambitions for the future

“My coach’s daughter actually rode dressage at the Olympic Games, and mum and I were talking and we were saying how awesome it would be if I could one day make it to the Olympics.”

If she were to climb the pinnacle of sport and make an Australian Olympic team, Charlotte envisages riding in her favourite event dressage, saying she loves the way the horse and rider move in sync during that particular discipline .

Anglican

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