2022 Community Report

SOUTHERN CROSS -

- GRAMMAR-

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COMMUNITY REPORT

For the year ended 31 December 2022 Southern Cross Grammar A Company Limited by Guarantee ACN 149 437 276 Registered Office and Principal Place of Business 2-20 Lancefield Drive Caroline Springs Victoria 3023

CONTENTS

OUR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP FINANCE FACILITIES UPGRADES AND EXPANSIONS OUR STUDENTS 2022 VCE RESULTS NAPLAN RESULTS STUDENT SUCCESS STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OUR STAFF

OUR SCHOOL Southern Cross Grammar (SCG) is a vibrant, Foundation– Year 12 school. Focused on maximising the learning of every member in our school community. Founded in the 21st century, we have modern, up-to-date facilities, teaching and learning practices.

With a capacity to balance traditional approaches with contemporary ideas supported by latest research, we are committed to selecting the best methods to suit our students’ needs. Our students enjoy the liberal curriculum and variety of opportunities we provide.

The facilities, the overall size of the school and the way we teach, all support our focus on the care and knowledge of each individual. We maintain a commitment to providing personalised learning experiences for all our students. Our students, parents and staff enjoy a deep sense of belonging as part of a strong community. This high level of care and inclusion forms an integral part of our students’ high performance in their studies.

SCG provides a variety of pathways to excellence by adopting a personal approach to recognising and developing each student’s personal strengths.

Our students enjoy learning beyond the classroom, in local and international settings. We enjoy the teamwork and competition of house and regional sports, and the cultural and academic challenges that allow students to test their abilities at a school, local or national level.

We have a clear vision for our school and remain committed to an intimate, small student population, with a modern and impressive campus supported by high performing and caring staff.

Together, we have shown great resilience and an ability to build positive futures with our community. We are confident that we are well-placed to continue to provide a highly personalised and impactful experience for our families into the future.

OUR VISION Southern Cross Grammar is a vibrant, Foundation to Year 12 school focused on maximising the learning of every member in our school community. Founded in the 21st century, we balance traditional approaches with contemporary ideas supported by latest research. Committed to selecting the best methods to suit our students’ needs, with our community enjoying the liberal curriculum and variety of opportunities we provide.

Our students embrace self-discovery and achievement, with their voices and agency at the forefront, cultivating independence and self-assuredness. Supported by our dedicated families, we proudly showcase our robust foundations and the exciting direction propelling us as a modern, highperforming, and personalised school.

LEADERSHIP Southern Cross Grammar is a company limited by guarantee.

Officially opened in July 2011 in the presence of Mr Zig Inge and the Inge group, and the founding Board of Directors, Southern Cross Grammar has thrived, building a high performing, modern, and personalised school for families seeking a quality education.

Our Principal, Mr Matthew Dodd, with the support and guidance of the Board Chair, Mr Nathan Fosnaugh, and the Board of Directors continues to honour the school’s proud foundations and history while remaining committed to the continual improvement the school has become known for.

Working alongside Mr Dodd are a team of highly experienced senior staff who make up the 2022 Executive Team

MATTHEW DODD

PRUE PETSINIS

PRINCIPAL

HEAD OF PRIMARY

ANTHONY CLARK

JENNIFER TURNER

DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES

DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE

FINANCE Southern Cross Grammar is a not-for-profit organisation and has strong business practices in place to ensure that its finances are managed in an effective, efficient and compliant manner.

The school practices sound financial stewardship and management, delivering surpluses for each financial year. These surpluses are applied to facility development and to improvements in educational resources and services.

The charts indicate the categories of income and expenditure for the 2022 calendar year.

INCOME

EXPENDITURE

OUR FACILITIES THE CENTAURI CENTRE It was a delight to welcome students and staff into the completed Centauri Centre for the first time.

The energy on campus and students’ joy was evident as they toured the Centre and began learning in its significant spaces including our expansive senior area, performance rooms, commercial kitchen, and Year 12 Common Room The Library and cafe has been a resounding success with students working collaboratively, studying privately, or working with staff during class time and for after school tutoring.

The sounds of violins and other musical instruments are frequently heard from the auditorium as students rehearse for performances.

The Foundation Morning Tea and Centauri Twilight Tours were apt events to show parents the new facilities and have them see and experience the work and learning taking place in the building. Hosted in the Centauri Cafe, the Morning Tea introduced our Foundation families to the Centre where their young child would one day learn, perform, grow, and navigate their senior years at Southern Cross Grammar.

It is evident from speaking to our students, staff, Alumni, and families that the Centauri Centre has ushered in a new era for our community with the incredible lift and scale in opportunities for students to navigate their own course for their future.

The Centauri Centre’s Twilight Tours were a welcome return to touring families on our campus. As well as welcoming families back on-site, we also welcomed Alumni, as we shared in the Centre and Middle School Building upgrades and acknowledged those who paved the way in our school’s proud history.

It is evident from speaking to our students, staff, Alumni, and families that the Centauri Centre has ushered in a new era for our community with the incredible lift and scale in opportunities for students to navigate their own course for their future.

Like the many generations who looked to the Southern Hemisphere, to Alpha and Beta Centauri, the Centauri Centre sets our sights to the future and to the possibilities it brings.

YEAR 12 SPACES The Year 12 cohort spent the first term of 2022 eagerly watching as the Centauri Centre was finalised, furnished, and prepared for senior students. As soon as the Centre opened to students and our community, they took stewardship of the Centre, and used it to its full potential, treating it with respect and acknowledging its significance as a facility that provides highquality learning for younger students for many years to come.

The first formal event held in Centauri was the induction of the SCG graduating Class of 2022. The inaugural event was a significant milestone for our Year 12 students, their families and community.

UPGRADES AND EXPANSIONS TECHNOLOGY In 2022 we introduced a suite of cutting-edge tech for learning, as part of our commitment to elevating our students' ambition for high performance in all areas of their learning, we expanded on our existing equipment with the introduction of a suite of cutting-edge tech for learning. These include a 3D Printer, Laser Cutter, Underwater and Aerial Drone, and sights on adding to our equipment library in the coming years.

PLANT TISSUE CULTURE LAB Opening to students for the first time in 2022, our plant tissue culture laboratory is a symbol to students to aim beyond their secondary level learning and is a call to our community of the powerful impact of building relationships and connections with others for positive impact.

The design and construction of the plant tissue culture lab comes as part of our commitment to supporting students’ high performance in STEM and joins our suite of state-of-the-art resources and specialised environments for learning often unique to universities and institutions of higher learning and research.

Learn more about the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory in the SCG Magazine: Propagating Positive Futures

YEAR 6 CLASSROOM UPGRADES Marking a significant milestone in our school’s history, we began work on 2 new classrooms which will be home for our Year 6 students. The spaces are designed to promote collaboration within a personalised and safe space. Both classrooms have been created to encourage the use of technology to enhance learning

DESIGN UPGRADE TO THE LRC The Primary School welcomed the addition of the ‘Enchanted Tree’ in the Library Resource Centre. The architectural tree sculpture signifies the beginning of a focus on the development of spaces in our Primary school which have people at the centre of all design.

MUSIC VILLAGE In line with our school philosophy of sustainability our existing Music Pods were relocated to be closer together, which has now formed our ‘Music Village’. Bringing the pods together has created a space which allows students to focus on the development of their musical skills. “Our entire music team is happier and more motivated since the pods arrived. I’m so grateful to the school for investing in them; I wish every school could have this opportunity” Samantha Abela, Head of Strings

2022 HIGHLIGHTS

MATILDA, THE MUSICAL Matilda the Musical presented by our talented students and staff was a triumph, ushering in a bold and new era for the Arts at Southern Cross Grammar.

Among the clatter of dance steps, the harmonising pitches of youthful voices and the discovery of poignant stage moments, a dedicated team toiled away, week after week, giving the best of themselves to bring this beloved children’s story to life.

What began as a disparate group of individual students after auditions, grew into a caring and generous company whose bonds of friendship reached across the school and deepened the ties of appreciation and fondness.

As the production approached, backstage teams moved set pieces into position, pre- set props and rehearsed shadow puppetry. Technical students, astutely fitted audio microphones, pored over the precise requirements of a sound or lighting transition, and practiced cueing projections while scribbling in their scripts.

Behind the scenes, students built versatile set pieces and promotional pieces with the laser cutter and 3D printer, and staff sourced recycled and second-hand items to design, stitch and sew vibrant costumes as iconic characters prepared to come alive. Schedules were drafted, props sourced or designed, music numbers fine-tuned, and history was made as the cast and crew stepped into the Centauri Centre’s auditorium for the first time.

View interviews with the cast and crew.

COMPLETION OF THE CENTAURI CENTRE Described as a “quantum step forward” for our community, the Centauri Centre was opened to staff and students in 2022 and has already hosted many events that will be enduring memories of 2022.

From the Year 7s preparing and serving canapés for the inaugural Year 12 Induction evening, through to the radiant and polished performances from our F-12 cast and crew in Matilda the Musical, the Centauri Centre created the stage for so many students’ success stories to play out!

With the seating retracted and the auditorium transformed, the Creative Arts team and student talent and creativity was on show for an admiring audience during the Design Learning Exhibition.

The quality of the work and the overwhelming support from our community was a highlight for many, this year.

OUR STUDENTS

2022 VCE RESULTS Having led our school and actively contributed to their communities with distinction, the Class of 2022 have emerged as ambitious graduates ready for the diverse pathways and bright futures life has to offer.

With 59% of students scoring an ATAR of 80 or above and 98.18% of VCE students who sat their exams successful at securing an offer to tertiary studies, we are proud of their achievements in their VCE exams.

Beyond ATARs and Study Scores, the Class of 2022 stand out for their ambition to contribute positively to their communities through their careers from the science and health pathways, to art, design and legal studies.

We are proud of the Class of 2022 and their drive to persevere and perform at such a high standard. We wish them every success as they embark on the next chapter of their lives as SCG Alumni.

100% of students received their VCE certificate

26%

of Study Scores were 35 or above

43%

of students scored an ATAR of 80 and above

77

was the median ATAR

CLASS OF 2022 TERTIARY AND FURTHER STUDIES PLACEMENTS

7%

of Study Scores were 40 or above

2

Study Scores of 50 were achieved

98%

of students who completed their VCE recieved a university offer

NAPLAN RESULTS The 2022 NAPLAN results were a triumph of high performance and success across our Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 cohort. Our students out-performed the Victorian state average for every measure in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy placing our students at the top of an elite group of learners.

Students’ high performance in their NAPLAN, is a testament to the support of their families and the expertise of their teachers.

Their benchmarks and averages increased to record highs for our youngest students.

We commend and applaud our students’ significant achievements in the 2022 NAPLAN. Southern Cross Grammar ranked highly in our state when compared to other high-scoring private and independent schools.

Primary School at ranked 115th in the state.

Secondary School ranked 48th in the state.

2022 NAPLAN RESULTS

STUDENTS' SUCCESS At Southern Cross Grammar, we are privileged to have students who are ambitious to make a difference in their communities and beyond. In 2022 this was no different with students applying their skills and passions to give back to their community. Some also expanded their sights internationally in making a difference.

As well as volunteering their time in their communities, students also excelled in academic studies and co-curricular passions.

AARUSH AWARDED THE JUNIOR TRIPLE ZERO HERO AWARD

ETHICS OLYMPIAD SUCCESS

OVIDU MAKES THE U12 STATE FOOTBALL SQUAD

TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONS

SACHITHA PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES AT THE 2022 WOODS STREET YOUTH ART PRIZE

Aarush was recognised by the Minister of Emergency Services, The Hon Jaclyn Symes MLC., and presented with the Junior Triple Zero Hero Award for his clear thinking and bravery during an emergency.

Aarush has also accepted the role of Brand Ambassador for emergency services at SCG to guide students on the important guidelines to remember during an emergency: be calm, lead, act, and communicate.

Our Ethics Olympiad team competed in the International Senior Ethics Olympiad Final and placed a fantastic 11th out of 40 teams from China, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Hong Kong, United States and India.

Ovidu secured a position in the Under 12 Victorian School Boys Football Squad.

Ovidu’s fantastic achievement comes after successfully competing in three stages of trials for a coveted place in the team.

Our Year 11-12 Table Tennis team won the western region championships in Geelong after four rounds of fierce games last week.

Year 12 student Sachitha’s series of photographs ‘Imagination’ has been selected to exhibit at the 2022 Woods Street Youth Art Prize.

Congratulations Hannah, Olivia, Saif, and Bestavros!

Sachitha's photographs were exhibited at Woods Street Arts Space in Laverton as part of the Woods Street Youth Art Prize exhibition, in November 2022.

Our students also received honourable mentions from the judges on their high performance during the Olympiad, including their clear thinking, and exceptional rigorous and well-researched discussions during the competition.

Our 2022 team are the first SCG students to represent our school in the Senior Ethics Olympiad and we are proud of the high bar they have set for future teams to come.

Ovidu represented School Sport Victoria (SSV) and our state at the School Sport Australia Football Championships in late 2022.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE As a school, we inspire our students and school community to extend their thoughts beyond the school's boundaries and engage actively with their local community.

RCH FUNDRAISER

FARESHARE FOOD DRIVE

In an effort to raise funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital, SCG held a ‘Dress up as someone who cares for you’ day. Overwhelmingly supported throughout the school, with our community raising $1,356 for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Our Year 12 Health and Human Development students volunteered in FairShare Australia’s Schools in the Kitchen program, joining a wider network of volunteers to cook nutritious meals for Victorians who have limited or no access to food.

The fundraiser was initiated and led by a Year 6 student, Rose, as part of our student initiative program and saw students dress up as nurses, paramedics, fire fighters, teachers, parents, and school crossing supervisors to honour the many people and professions who care for us and our communities.

During their visit to the FareShare kitchen in Abbotsford, our students worked with the FareShare team to prepare and cook over a thousand chicken sausage rolls and prepared the filling for 1200 egg and bacon pies, which were later packed by the FareShare team to be donated and distributed

Rose’s fundraising efforts and initiative speaks to our school community’s generosity and our gratitude for organisations like the Royal Children’s Hospital for the important work they do in our community and in the lives of children, young people, and their families.

Southern Cross Grammar’s involvement in the FareShare initiative was made possible thanks to our local and school community’s kindness and generosity. In total $323 in monetary donations were donated to the cause including gift cards sponsored by our local Coles and Woolworths, with tinned foods and non-perishable items also donated by students, parents, and staff to further support FareShare.

OUR STAFF Our staff are important members of our school community. Our commitment to building our staffing wellbeing capacity remains strong, with a greater focus on being able to offer higher levels of support for students and their families in a pastoral and operational ability.

All staff, both teaching and nonteaching, have current Working with Children Certificates and Level 2 First Aid training. All members of the teaching staff, most with post-graduate qualifications, are registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

In 2022, we employed 70.9 FTE teaching staff and 26.00 FTE nonteaching staff. The average attendance rate for teachers in 2022 was 96.5%.

8 teachers (6.70 FTE) from 2022 are not returning in 2023

Head of Year Appointments In the middle of 2022, we took significant strides by introducing a strategic initiative to appoint Heads of Year within our Secondary School.

Those appointed will form an integral part of the Wellbeing team, operating under the guidance of the Deputy Principal. The primary objective of these roles is to champion the implementation of high-quality developmental pedagogy throughout specific year levels. Moreover, they shoulder the crucial responsibility of nurturing students' well-being and growth, encompassing aspects such as behaviour management and academic advancement.

A key aspiration of these appointments is to cultivate a positive and supportive atmosphere, fostering an environment where accomplishments are lauded,

every student is esteemed, and a profound sense of belonging and connection is instilled in all. These Heads of Year also actively contribute to the evolution and delivery of the Wellness curriculum across their designated year levels. They vigilantly monitor the progress of individual students, promptly liaising with pertinent staff and parents to address any concerns that may arise. Heads of Year will begin their appointments in the beginning of 2023.

Expansion of our HR Department After an extensive recruitment process, Southern Cross Grammar appointed Danielle Andrews to the position of HR Administrator. Danielle brings significant years of experience in the area of People and Culture in Corporate and Government settings, in addition to having previously undertaken this role in her early years at SCG. In extending our heartfelt congratulations to Danielle on her appointment, we simultaneously express our sincere gratitude for the depth and breadth of knowledge she brings to this pivotal position within the school. The role of HR Administrator is a cornerstone in nurturing the school's vibrant community of educators and support staff. Danielle's wealth of experience ensures that she is wellequipped to address the multifaceted opportunities that this role presents.

Building Capacity in Co-curricular

AMY VAN BUUREN: SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY TEACHER Amy van Buuren was welcomed to SCG in mid-2022 as our new Science and Biology teacher. An innovative science educator with experience teaching secondary years science.

Amy is passionate about designing innovative programs that encourage students to make a positive impact on their local and global communities.

Expanding SCG’s co-curricular departments through the strategic hiring of additional staff represents a significant commitment to the holistic development of our students.

By bolstering our staffing teams, we are taking a proactive step toward offering a diverse array of activities that cater to various interests and talents. This expansion allows us to provide specialised attention and guidance to students participating in sports, arts, music, leadership clubs, and other co-curricular pursuits.

Through this investment, we aim to create an enriched educational experience that not only focuses on academic excellence but also nurtures vital life skills, such as teamwork, creativity, leadership, and time management. The presence of an expanded team of dedicated professionals will not only enhance our students' skill development but also foster a sense of community and belonging within the school.

As we hire additional staff, we are reaffirming our commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals who are not only academically adept but also equipped with the practical and interpersonal skills needed to excel in an ever-evolving world.

Immerse yourself in the many stories, successes, experiences and highlights from the SCG community in 2022 as we marked our eleventh year Click on any image above to view the digital publication

2-20 Lancefield Drive Caroline Springs Victoria 3023 (03) 8363 2000 admin@scg.vic.edu.au