Junior and Middle School Liaison

When we started the year, Covid-19 was still a concern and we didn’t know what lay ahead but we hoped for a full uninterrupted year of school. Fortunately, the year was lockdown-free, allowing for school as we know it to return to normal and Camberwell Grammar’s inter-school community to begin to thrive, with links between the Junior, Middle, and Senior Schools being as strong as ever.

With an optimistic start to the year, the morning reading program was able to resume for the entirety of the year. Our 35 Senior School volunteers, spanning from Years 10 to 12, enabled our reading program to expand to not just Prep, Year 1, and Year 2 but Year 3 as well. The program allows younger students to form connections with older students in the School while developing their reading skills.

The biggest highlight for me in my role this year was having the opportunity to assist with the 100 Days of Prep celebrations. During this day, the Preps were able to take part in a number of activities ranging from arts and crafts to sport. This gave me personally a real opportunity to see all the Preps together and interact with them during the celebrations. Preps love to share, and I learnt a variety of facts about each of them, such as their favourite hobbies and favourite flavoured ice cream.

Once the winter season rolled around, the First XVIII Football team dressed in their playing kit and ran various football-related activities for the Junior School. The Junior School students had the opportunity to dress up in their favourite team colours and get involved in some basic drills and skills.

After what was a successful year for all, I’d like to thank the Heads and Deputies of the Junior, Middle, and Senior Schools, as well as all the teachers and students who assisted me over the course of the year. I’d also like to acknowledge those Year 12 students, who despite being overwhelmed with their studies at times, were willing to give up their valuable time to assist and get involved enthusiastically with various programs. I loved every moment this year as Camberwell Grammar’s Junior and Middle School Liaison. I hope the activities and time spent with Senior School students this year will assist younger students in building connections as they transition through school in the future.

Finally, I would like to congratulate Sam Keenan on his appointment as Junior and Middle School Liaison for 2023. He has some great ideas and I look forward to hearing about them being implemented in the future to help further improve the culture between the three levels of the School. I know he’ll be great!

Ben Grlj

Prefect for Middle and Junior School Liaison