Senior School Report

from Grammarian 2022

Staff Notes

The transition back to a consistent period of on-site school this year provided so many opportunities for students to experience challenges, connections, and personal progress. Concerts, performances, excursions, sport, debates, House activities, community service, assessments, and exams to name but a few of these opportunities for students to engage and strive to achieve their personal best. But the transition did take a period of adjustment to establish routines and habits that have not consistently been present over the past two years.

One of our most important events for the year took place in late Term 1 when the Performing Arts Centre hosted a special memorial service for Max McKenzie. We fondly remembered Max’s zest for life, sense of humour, and love of Camberwell Grammar and we heard of the many adventures and special times with both family and friends. The service was certainly a celebration of the wonderful contribution Max made to the lives of all who knew him and was a fitting tribute to him.

On the sports field, Senior School students represented Camberwell Grammar with passion, camaraderie, and determination, which saw our most successful year of Sport in the School’s history and included the School’s 100th AGSV Premiership. Premierships were won across a wide range of sports including Tennis, Table Tennis, and Water Polo. We also won our first Premiership in Baseball and achieved back-to-back titles in Swimming. In the first year of the AGSV, Camberwell Grammar won the inaugural Athletics title, and this year we won the 100th Athletics Premiership. Students across the School demonstrated their dedication, talent, and teamwork throughout Summer, Winter, and Spring Sport Seasons by attending training, developing their skills, and wearing the School colours with pride, regardless of the result of individual matches.

The Performing Arts provided an outstanding program of opportunities for students to experience both the toil and thrill of the stage, explore their interests and passions, and challenge themselves throughout 2022. The soundtrack to Term 1 was the uplifting sound of singing rehearsals in anticipation of the first House competition of the year, House Music. As a new member of the Camberwell Grammar community, I was filled with joy, awe, and pride at what the students were able to achieve in such a short preparation period.

The Senior School Musical The Threepenny Opera, which was held on campus in the famous Spiegeltent, was a tremendous success. It was a wonderful production and reflected the talent, commitment, and sheer hard work of all members of the cast and crew.

After two years of delays, postponements, and cancellations, our community was again able to enjoy the extraordinary performances at the Chamber Concert, and this year also saw the inaugural Jazz Night held during Term 2. House Drama also made a welcome return and followed the theme ‘Fast Films’. It was uplifting to see a range of students from Year 9 through to Year 12 involved in each performance.

There is no question that one of the highlights of 2022 was the Biennial Concert in Term 3. The sense of community that filled Hamer Hall, the emotion felt as Camberwell Grammar students sang the Anthem from Chess to close the evening, and the amazing talent of the students who performed throughout the Concert, combined to make it an experience that will long be remembered by students, staff, and parents.

Students at Camberwell Grammar are both encouraged and challenged to make a positive difference in the lives of others. One of the most tangible ways for students to engage in helping others is through the many opportunities for community service and contribution. This year, led by the School Prefects, House Prefects, and members of the Rotary Interact Club, a wide range of causes were supported by the School Community which included the Salvation Army, Operation Toilets, RUOK Day, FORaMEAL, IDAHOBIT Day, Kids Under Cover, HoMie, the ‘Push Up Challenge’, and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

During the year, the Heads of House and School Prefects led the inaugural Camberwell Grammar Respect Week which proved to be a huge success. Throughout the week, students were involved in activities focused on the concept of respect for self and others as part of their Tutor Group periods. Past student Rob Vienet (2012) gave a tremendous keynote address about the concept of respect at the Senior School Assembly.

This year also coincided with the Federal Election, and with our location in one of the country’s most high-profile seats in this year’s campaign, students had the opportunity to hear from the two key candidates when Independent candidate for Kooyong, Dr Monique Ryan and the then Federal Treasurer, the Hon. Josh Frydenberg visited the School.

There has been so much to celebrate in 2022 as the return to a school year, free from the interruptions of lockdowns, has brought with it a sense of enjoyment and gratitude. Each term has been filled with training and matches, practices and performances, rehearsals, and concerts. Students have grasped the chance to engage in an ever-increasing range of opportunities presented to them across academic, co-curricular, and pastoral domains. I wish to thank all members of the Senior School community – students, staff, and parents – for all you have contributed to life at Camberwell Grammar this year.