2022 Yearbook

YEARBOOK 2022

LEARNING REPORTS

Numeracy

LEADERSHIP REPORTS

Principal’s Message | 4

Head of Primary | 6

Foundation-Year 2 Report 8

Years 3 and 4 Report | 9

Years 5 and 6 Report | 10

Teaching and Learning 12

Year 7 Report | 14

Years 8 and 9 Report 16

Years 10 and 11 Report | 18

Year 12 Report | 24

2022 Student Representative Council 30

OUR COMMUNITY

Health and Physical Education 54

Performing Arts: Music | 56

Performing Arts: Drama 60

Food Studies | 62

Sport (7-12) | 64

Humanities 66

Wellbeing: Curriculum | 68

Applied Learning Report | 70

EDITOR'S NOTE

Matilda the Musical | 76 100 Days of Foundation 84 Parents and Friends Committee 88 Learning Resource Centre 90

Dreaming With Our Eyes Open | 94 A Walk Through the Royal Botanic Gardens 100

Elevating the Everyday 102 Year 12 Formal 104

2022 CAMPS

Year 5 Camp: The Summit | 110

Year 10 Great Barrier Reef Tour | 112 Year 10-11 New Zealand Tour | 116

OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY

Students and Staff 2022 120

2022 marked our first full year on-site since 2019, and with it many events and milestones our community have been privileged to celebrate together in-person. This year has been filled with so many stories of success, both individual and collective, and it has been a joy to share them in the SCG Magazine, Schoolbox, and beyond. I hope you enjoy looking back on all we've achieved together this year in the 2022 Yearbook. What a year!

TOSAN FOSS HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

In 2022 the stars aligned for the SCG community! The Centauri Centre, the full upgrade to the Middle School Building, the increased leadership opportunities, staffing and resourcing in each classroom have elevated our experience of learning and caring across all sections of our beautiful school community.

Adversity was managed with resilience, determination, and proactive strategic planning to ensure the best experience for everyone this year as we worked our way out of the restrictions placed on us all over the past few years.

After a short delay in opening the Centauri Centre, the many memorable events that have since been hosted in our beautiful new Centre will be the enduring memory this year.

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 has literally created the stage for so many students’ success stories to play out!

Book Week opened joyfully once more to families, followed closely by the Primary Art show: Elevate continued to raise the bar for student achievement and celebrations of learning.

With the seating retracted and the auditorium once again transformed, the Creative Arts team and student talent and creativity was on show for an admiring audience. The quality of the work and the overwhelming support from our community will be a highlight for many this year.

In 2022 the stars aligned for the SCG community!

In addition to several new subjects and a continued broadening of learning landscapes to explore at SCG, Years 7-9 students also enjoyed our first Design Learning event. With timetables put aside for a fortnight to allow deeper learning and passion projects aimed at providing positive social outcomes, Years 7-9 students worked collaboratively and showed great courage in their shark tank

The Centauri Centre, the full upgrade to the Middle School Building, the increased leadership opportunities, staffing and resourcing in each classroom have elevated our experience of learning and caring across all sections of our beautiful school community.

pitches at the conclusion of the project. Welcoming families back on-site has been a delight this year and brings our community back to our foundations as a close learning community. In addition to bring families back, we have also all worked tirelessly to reintroduce a full enrichment program, with camps, excursions and tours bringing much needed life, energy, joy, and adventure back into our students’ lives.

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 has literally created the stage for so many students’ success stories to play out!

Student initiated tours of the Great Barrier Reef, visits back to Tasmania and our first overseas adventure to New Zealand, along with PFC celebrations, countless sports days, state championships, international Ethics Olympiad, STEM interschool success, and of course a rich experience in the Arts have been celebrated by all involved.

My sincere gratitude and applause for every student, parent, and staff member that has worked tirelessly and with such care in planning this rich tapestry of learning and connection for our community.

The environment in which this rich offering has been managed was complex and possibly even more challenging for many this year, but despite this, with love and great professionalism, our community have led a path out of isolation with the student experience kept front of mind at every step throughout the year.

We have every reason to look to 2023 and beyond with great optimism and excitement as we work together to build bright futures for our children.

MATT DODD PRINCIPAL

PRIMARY SCHOOL REPORT

2022, in the Primary School, has been a year of re-connection, rekindling of relationships and care for each other.

We all have a story. A story of where we have come from. A story of who we are close to. A story which includes family and friends. It sometimes includes different countries. But we all have one thing in common and that is that we are part of the SCG community. We share stories with each other and make connections.

PRUE PETSINIS HEAD OF PRIMARY

There are many gossamer threads that run through our Primary School, linking students, families, teachers in sometimes unexpected ways. According to research, the more positive emotions you experience, the more resilient you will be. 2022, in the Primary School, has been a year of re-connection, rekindling of relationships and care for each other.

Connection is the state of being related to someone or something else. While we previously took connection and social interaction for granted, this year we have been grateful to be able to connect on

campus and in person. Our students' sheer delight at the daily opportunity to learn in their classroom and play with their friends has been joyful. Visiting authors, artists, environmental experts, animal wildlife warriors and historians provided our students with provocations to identify and explore new ideas. The Primary Art Show, Elevate, celebrated the curiosity and wonder of our students’ imaginations and brought together extended families.

2022 saw the Years 5 and 6 students join with Foundation-Year 4, to become a true Foundation to Year 6 Primary School. With this in mind, the Primary Leadership Program aims to develop leaders who have integrity and are courageous and compassionate.

Year 6 students led activities that promoted social interaction, cultural awareness, compassion, empathy and care. Harmony Week and the Chinese New Year Dragon Dance promoted and celebrated the diverse

nature of cultures within our community. Book Week and National Science Week saw Primary students learning from and engaging with Senior School students’ reading, experimenting, and discussing.

Student initiative is encouraged and entrepreneurial, organisational and communication skills have all been developed through projects such as Year 4 Footy Clinics, stick insect enclosure, and Dress Up as a Person Who Cares for You.

Our students' sheer delight at the daily opportunity to learn in their classroom and play with their friends has been joyful.

The establishment of a camp program beginning in Foundation saw our youngest students embarking on a

journey of discovery and awareness. Students often make new connections on camps and further develop their care and empathy for both others at camp and their natural surroundings.

It is not only people with whom our students connect, it is their learning. Learning is intentionally focussed on scaffolding questioning, problem solving, thinking and collaboration. From Year 2–6 students have become agents in their learning journey through student led conferencing and setting learning goals, joining with parents and teachers to establish a pathway ahead. Connections are not always tangible, and their capacity should never be underestimated. We look forward to and value the time we spend with each other in the Primary School. Chatting in the playground, having a coffee at the Centauri Café, appreciating

performances, learning in the classroom all enrich the quality of our lives. We all weave Invisible threads that are often our strongest ties.

FOUNDATION–YEAR 2 REPORT YEARS 3 AND 4 REPORT

It has been amazing to observe our youngest students flourish throughout the school year. This has been made possible by the early emergence of strong bonds and a sense of belonging for students.

Junior Primary places a special emphasis on giving students opportunities to interact with their peers and form a strong feeling of community within our school. To ensure a strong sense of connection between our students from the beginning of the year, we experienced several cooperative, crossage activities within the Primary School.

We exposed students to a variety of different learning experiences including incursions, excursions, and a number of special events where learning occurred outside of their usual classrooms.

The Year 5 Buddies hosted various Buddy events for our Junior Primary students, often inviting the other Junior Primary classes into their classrooms to share their learning. Year 11 students were a frequent presence in our Year 2 classrooms demonstrating their Personal Projects for VCAL studies which included gardening and Clean Up Australia Day. House Activities were also a highlight for our Foundation to Year 2 students.

Our Year 1 students visited Werribee Mansion as a part of History in their Humanities studies and Year 2 students experienced camp during their

Sunnystones Day Camp. In Semester 2, Foundation students celebrated a huge milestone at their 100 Days of School celebration. During writing sessions, Year 2 students published narrative stories which were celebrated and shared during Buddy Readings session in the Foundation classes.

This year families and students were united for on-site events which was wonderful to experience. This included observing special events such as 100 Days of School for Foundation, Book Week, R U OK? Day, the Elevate Art Show and dress-up days. Virtual performances, assemblies, and discos were also among the other exciting attractions for our Junior Primary students.

Students flourished as their personal abilities, self-assurance, and knowledge increased, and we watched our young people show initiative, bravery, kindness and leadership in the classroom, as well as in the playground.

So, as the 2022 academic year draws to a close, we are in awe of our students. We look forward to building on the achievements of our Junior Primary Students in 2023!

There is nothing better than being back in the classroom together, and in 2022, our Years 3 and 4 cohort cherised being back on-site, and the rich experiences the academic year had to offer.

We did it! We were back on-site for our learning which know that the students were excited about. I can tell you that the teachers were just as excited; there is nothing better than being back in the classroom together.

A highlight for both the Years 3 and 4 students was being able to go on their very first school camp. Although we were a little nervous to begin with, everyone was so excited to have the opportunity to attend given the past couple of years. With the offer of activities including canoeing, damper making, the giant swing, and archery, students all embraced these experiences and have made some life long memories that I’m sure they will cherish.

In Year 3 students loved dressing up as their favourite characters from a story for Book Week, watching the awesome demonstrations run by Ms Blacklock and her team of scientists as part of National Science Week, their excursion to Science Works as well as buying special gifts for our mums, dads and special family members at the stalls arranged by the PFC. can report that

everyone absolutely loved their special gifts!

In Year 4 we had many students partake in our school production of Matilda the Musical Countless hours were spent rehearsing, studying scripts, and learning choreography to bring us what was an outstanding show! A highlight was connecting with different students across the school and making new friends.

The students in Year 4 loved connecting with Year 9 buddies and listening to author Felice Arena talk about the inspiration for his writing as part of our Book Week celebrations, designing and creating a new pencil case for Mr Staniscia as part of our focus on upcycling as a way to consider our impact on our environment, and our excursion to the fabulous Heide Art Museum.

What action packed year it has been this year in Years 3 and 4. This year has flown by and I speak on behalf of Ms Saunders, Ms Coverdale, Ms Caldwell and Ms Kelly that it has been amazing watching this group of children grow and learn.

LAUREN HEDDITCH F-2 SCHOOL SECTION LEADER

CINDY THLIMENOS YEARS 3-4 SCHOOL SECTION LEADER

YEARS 5 AND 6 REPORT

In our first uninterrupted year back on campus, our Years 5 and 6 students have relished learning in a face-to-face environment, develop their friendships with peers, and challenged themselves as leaders.

It has been wonderful being back on-site for an uninterrupted year of classroom activities and school events, and students relished the opportunity to learn in a face-to-face environment and develop their relationships with peers once more. They effectively reestablished routines, worked collaboratively with others and broadened their friendship circles.

and after a rigorous selection process, were allocated a position.

DAMIEN MORRISON YEARS 5-6 SCHOOL SECTION LEADER

Our Years 5 and 6 students shared the common theme of leadership throughout the year. Being the eldest cohorts in the Primary School, they led by example and demonstrated behaviours and learning habits for younger students to look up to. Year 6 students started their leadership journey with an incursion led by Unleashing Personal Potential.

Students identified their strengths and then continued to improve their knowledge and develop their leadership capabilities. They applied for primary leadership positions

Year 5 students were privileged to have Foundation buddies this year, as part of our Buddy Program, and were fantastic role models for the youngest members of our school. They enjoyed helping their younger buddies with fun events and classroom activities such as reading, writing and some science experiments.

A strong sense of school community was upheld this year with a number of extracurricular activities and multi-age days. Year 6 students were at the forefront of these, often helping to organise and run events, or even starting their own initiatives, such as a week of Harmony Day activities. They also enjoyed hosting younger year levels to spend play money at the shops they had created for their mini city. Parents came on-site to discuss their roles in the community and how a business is run.

As a result of an excursion to Sovereign Hill, Year 5 students created a living museum where students and teachers from other classes could travel back in time to the 1850s. Visitors learned about artefacts, people, places, and events from life on the Goldfields. We even found some gold!

Year 5 and 6 students relished the opportunity to learn in a face-to-face environment and develop their relationships with peers once more. They effectively re-established routines, worked collaboratively with others and broadened their friendship circles.

A number of students in Upper Primary were involved in the school production, Matilda the Musical. From lead roles through to the production team, everyone did their part to bring the Musical to life. The countless hours spent rehearsing and getting costumes ready were well worth it during the final performances. A huge congratulations to all those involved!

We were fortunate enough to have camps up and running once again. The Year 5 students thoroughly enjoyed their time at The Summit in Trafalgar, Gippsland. Students’ goals included building confidence, developing leadership skills, and working on positive communication.

All students approached activities with an open mindset and positive attitude. A few of the highlights included the flying fox across the dam, the Summit

window, the Snowy River challenge and the Monster Course. Friendships were formed, great times were had and amazing, possibly muddy, memories were made. For the Year 6 students, they were off to Toolangi with the purpose of celebrating their Primary School journey.

The 2022 academic year has been full of fun and success for our Upper Primary students. We can’t wait to see what they will achieve as leaders and learners in the coming years.

TEACHING AND LEARNING REPORT

Congratulations to all students who have embraced the challenges of this year. Students have made leaps and bounds from remote learning to on-site learning and experiencing the world beyond SCG's gates.

"When we give ourselves permission to fail, we, at the same time, give ourselves permission to excel." ―

Eloise Ristad

MEGAN UNTHANK HEAD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

Eloise Ristad was a pianist, educator and creative who published many works focused on performance anxiety. She maintained that giving yourself permission to fail opens you up to all the possibilities and freedoms that come with finding a different way to succeed. She advocated for breaking away from the expected path and encouraged her students to gain strength in setbacks.

With the last couple of years being a different time in education, we’ve asked a lot of our students to remain on track and engaged with school despite most of the time learning from home.

Spending two years away from the routine and comfort of school has challenged everyone. Friendships and connections have changed, skills and interests have changed, and the way we learn has changed. Much to

the chagrin of many, there’s been challenges in returning to a setting that has become unfamiliar to us. Students are two years older than they were the last time they spent a whole year uninterrupted by a pandemic. It is only natural that things were going to take some time to settle back into a rhythm.

The initial feeling of setback is unpleasant. We feel out to sea and sometimes think that we may as well give up.

But I urge you all to step-back and take a perspective that may challenge you. Look at your failed attempt at success as an opportunity for progress. Winston Churchill once said that “perfection is the enemy of progress”, and in learning, especially in our Primary and Secondary schooling years, that is the quest we are on—a path of progress. Are you doing better than you were yesterday? Have you course corrected as a result of teacher feedback? Will you learn from mistakes and turn them into

opportunities for learning?

An example of this in action was the Design Learning program in Years 7-9 this year. Off the back of two years communicating through a screen, we asked students to present an idea of social change and innovation to a panel of community stakeholders. This was a huge achievement in any context, but more so when we consider the leaps and bounds the students made from WebEx presenters to in-person agents of change.

Our community guests described our students as voracious and strong because they understood that it takes a lot to face a panel of strangers and speak about something you’ve invested your time and energy into.

I hope the endorsement from the community and all the other things you have achieved this year sit with you

over the summer break. Think about the progress you’ve made this year and take the marks missed in the context of a bigger learning journey.

We will grow and exceed our goals together if we continue to make the most of the opportunities presented to us. Congratulations to all students who have embraced the challenges of this year with aplomb. I look forward to seeing all you can achieve in 2023.

Winston Churchill once said that “perfection is the enemy of progress”, and in learning, especially in our Primary and Secondary schooling years, that is the quest we are on—a path of progress. Are you doing better than you were yesterday? Have you course corrected as a result of teacher feedback? Will you learn from mistakes and turn them into opportunities for learning?

YEAR 7 REPORT

Year 7 has been a year filled with excitement, developing routines, and taking part in opportunities for the first time. 2022 has seen our Year 7 students develop strong routines for success in their secondary years.

Year 7 has been a year filled with excitement, developing routines, and taking part in opportunities for the first time. With an initial and continued emphasis on transitioning from Primary School to Secondary School students were given the opportunity to develop routines to set them up for success in their Secondary School journey.

connections through this experience with their peers as well as staff, and enjoyed the opportunity to learn outside of a classroom environment.

JADE PANOZZO HEAD OF YEAR 7

Throughout the first semester students gained valuable leadership skills in a formal capacity by choosing to apply for the Middle School Student Representative Council (SRC) or informally by working with other students of varying year levels, or through tasks such as being responsible for the cleanliness of the Year 7 Hub and Kitchenette.

A highlight of the first semester was our Year 7 Camp at Point Leo which involved students pushing through their boundaries whether sleeping away from home for the first time, cooking a meal on a trangia, or standing up on a surf board. Students developed key

Our Year 7 students are all to be commended on an excellent first year of Secondary School where they have shown great care for one another, a genuine interest in the wonderful opportunities and resources that are available to them at Southern Cross Grammar.

Throughout Semester 1 students were encouraged to participate in the many opportunities available to them such as: Matilda the Musical, Cosplay Club, AFL Footy Tipping Competition, Interschool Sports, Lunchtime Trivia sessions, Maths Club, Humanities Homework Club, Lunch

Time Sport Science Centre sessions, Robotics Club, Science Talent Search, Music Soirées, Year 7 Food Catering, and English Homework Club. Students enjoyed the opportunity to participate in many initiatives designed to support their academic pursuits and wellbeing such as Elephant Ed, Elevate Educate, Skodel, The Resilience Project, and Author Talks.

Semester 1 concluded with the Design Learning experience where students continued building on their personal and academic skills in a fun and engaging way before displaying their work to our Southern Cross Grammar community at our first Design Learning Exhibition Evening.

Term 3 was a busy one for our Year 7 students as they navigated many incursions and excursions. For the first time in 2022 all Year 7 students

participated in a number of offsite excursions as a cohort to venues such as The Immigration Museum, The Chinese Museum, and Melbourne Zoo with our Year 7 STEM students also participating in an Ecology excursion. All students particularly enjoyed interacting with external providers and learning about the different concepts of their studies by putting learning into action.

Our Year 7 students are all to be commended on an excellent first year of Secondary School where they have shown great care for one another, a genuine interest in the wonderful opportunities and resources that are available to them at Southern Cross Grammar, and perhaps most pleasingly great resilience in what has been their first full year of schooling in recent times.

I am proud to have led a cohort of students who are inquisitive and curious about the future and have adapted well to the many challenges thrown their way, and wish them every success as they move forward into Year 8.

YEARS 8 AND 9 REPORT

Years 8 and 9 students took the opportunity to challenge themselves through the 2022 school year both academically and in their cocurricular endeavours.

Students in Years 8 and 9 took the opportunity to challenge themselves through the 2022 school year.

for students to date, with state-of-the-art equipment and technology—upgrades students have approached with a voracious intensity.

DAVID WILDSMITH HEAD OF YEARS 8 AND 9

The cohort collectively flourished as they enjoyed the spoils of impressive new learning and social spaces on our expanding school site. It has been wonderful to watch the continued development of a group who enjoyed an array of success both in and out of the classroom. Students have taken the Year 8/9 themes of experience, opportunity, and challenge, and integrated this with their everyday school life with graceful poise. It has been humbling to work with a group of students who take such pride in care for each other and their community.

2022 has been a year of great aesthetic change for SCG, with the new facilities something that the whole school has been lucky to enjoy. The Centauri Centre, along with the upgrades to our Science and STEM laboratories, have provided great opportunity

All of the students in the Year 8 and 9 cohorts from 2022 have much to be proud of. The caring, kind and compassionate nature of our students makes SCG the place it is and provides a wonderful environment for which our students can thrive.

The Year 8 and 9 groups have relished in their classes in our new classrooms, with Year 8 Select Entry STEM utilising 3D printers and advanced design technology to create, enter and succeed in their Build-A-Car experiments, and our budding Year 9 scientists exploring circuits with the support of advanced equipment. The creative students in the

cohort have been able to use the new visual communication and design labs to produce outstanding work, and our musicians have moved into spaces that include recording studios to hone their skills.

The success of our first whole-school production, Matilda the Musical was tangible for the students involved in the show, as well as for those who watched the wildly impressive performance come together. We had a number of Year 8 and Year 9 students to be proud of, whose hard work and dedication was paid back in spades with their outstanding performances and contributions. From the Technical Crew to leading and understudy roles, students realised some new potentials with their talents.

Our Student Representative Council (SRC) consisted of students from both

Year 8 and Year 9. All students made significant contributions to the culture within their cohorts and did a terrific job leading their peers through the introduction of new initiatives and new equipment. The primary role of the group was to care for the students within the Middle Years and they did this with aplomb.

With a return to the camps program in 2022, all the students in Year 8 enjoyed their trip to Lake Eildon and Victorian inland waters.

With many highlights, the trip was a great experience for all, with a great bond that all attending students will enjoy for life. Our Year 9 students were able to choose their destination for camp, picking from two outstanding options in Tasmania and The Whitsundays. The celebration and fun had by all students was something

impressive to witness and cherish. All of the students in the Year 8 and 9 cohorts from 2022 have much to be proud of. The caring, kind and compassionate nature of our students makes SCG the place it is and provides a wonderful environment for which our students can thrive.

YEARS 10 AND 11 REPORT

2022 marked a new chapter for students who were greeted with the wonderful new addition of the Centauri Centre: an exciting, modern, and new space for students to learn, create, and grow.

JOSEPH HEDDITCH HEAD OF YEAR 10-11

This year marked a new chapter for students in the Senior Years who were greeted with the wonderful new addition of The Centauri Centre: an exciting, modern, and new space for students to learn, create and grow. The Centauri Centre has allowed students to reimagine their approach to successful outcomes though generous spaces and the inspiring quality of the classrooms they use.

In addition to this amazing new space, students were immersed in a broad offering of additional learning opportunities throughout the year.

In Term 1, students saw the return of the highly engaging Elephant Ed Health and Wellbeing Workshops. Elephant Ed are a youth-led organisation who tackle tough topics head-on. The content is designed to respond to relevant matters and challenges facing young people in an inclusive and safe environment. A large focus at Year 10-11 was around the themes of Inclusivity and Privilege.

It was pleasing to see how engaged students were in these sessions and to hear all about the positive feedback.

The students in Year 10 and 11 have conducted themselves with integrity, maturity, kindness, and resilience.

Following on from a successful year in 2021, students continued to develop their emotional literacy through The Resilience Project again in 2022. This program seeks to help all Australians become mentally healthy through presentations, wellbeing journals and the school’s wellbeing curriculum.

Another great addition to the Year 10-11 program in 2022 was the targeted sessions from Elevate Education. Elevate is Australia's leading study skills provider. Coming out of the past two years where disruptions to learning have occurred, Elevate Education

provides students with information, practical tips and resources to empower students on their journey to becoming independent learners and get back on track with their academic development. Towards the end of Term 2, all students in Year 10 participated in Work-To-Learn week. The aim of Work to Learn is for students to experience some of the different learning environments that they will be exposed to in life beyond traditional schooling. Closely aligned to this initiative was the Careers Expo excursion where students spent time at the Melbourne Showgrounds speaking directly with industry and education professionals to seek clarity and feedback on tertiary and career pathways. A valuable experience for all involved.

Blink and you may have missed it! Term 3 was action packed for a number

of reasons. From Founders Day celebrations to Matilda the Musical, sporting events and excursions; a large number of staff and students were incredibly busy planning and preparing for these wonderful events. In addition, students across Year 10-11 were eagerly preparing for the Great Barrier Reef and New Zealand Tours.

School camps and tours are often peak experiences in any student’s school journey and the opportunity in 2022 for students to travel to the Great Barrier Reef and New Zealand were certainly that!

The beginning of Term 4 saw the return of the Year 10-11 Formal which was a truly memorable night and quite possibly the highlight of the year for many. In the history of the Senior School at SCG, the dance floor has never been so alive! Students in the

Formal Committee worked incredibly hard to plan, organise, and celebrate this event which will go down in history as a very memorable night. The Committee really set the benchmark high for future cohorts in planning and leading school events. Well done again to all involved!

2022 is a year to celebrate the many successes and positive experiences that occurred. The students in Year 10 and 11 have conducted themselves with integrity, maturity, kindness, and resilience. They should be commended for all of the efforts they have made. We look forward to continuing this momentum into 2023 and beyond.

JACQUI FILONENKO

DEPUTY HEAD OF YEAR 10-11

Balloon garlands, photobooths, stunning outfits, and joyful students and staff ... our Years 10 and 11 students brought style to the dance floor at their Formal.

YEAR 12 REPORT

A massive congratulations to the Class of 2022 on completing their final academic year at Southern Cross Grammar. Like the graduating clases before them, the Class of 2022 have made us all proud.

2022 has certainly been one to remember with so many wonderful moments and achievements to celebrate. I am genuinely impressed by all the effort, hard work, dedication, and resilience students, staff and families have demonstrated in order to mark this year with success. I couldn’t be prouder of being a member of the SCG community as we guided and supported the Class of 2022 in their final year at Southern Cross Grammar and Graduation.

The Class of 2022 had a strong start to the year by embarking on their Year 12 Leadership Retreat at Lady Northcote Recreation Camp. From seminars on planning for success to setting goals and expectations, the Class of 2022 were able to grow individually as well as a cohort with a schedule brimming with outdoor teambuilding activities.

The presentation of Year 12 Jumpers is always a highlight for our Year 12 students.

The Class of 2022’s jumpers symbolised their place as the senior student leaders and their journey as they navigated their final year of schooling. While students were tackling their subjects, they spent the first term of this year 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 would facilitate high-quality learning for younger students for many years to come.

Our first formal event 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. The Induction was made all the more special by the SCG spirit of our Year 7 students, led by our Food Studies team, who showed hospitality during the

night catering and serving our families, having crafted a delicious menu in our commercial kitchen to celebrate the Class of 2022.

The Class of 2022 can be recognised for their maturity, capacity, creativity and confidence. With different areas of strength and passion, we celebrated many moments and achievements during 2022. In Term 3 we celebrated our first SCG Ethics Olympiad team competing in the National and International Senior Ethics Olympiad Finals and receiving an honourable mention from the judges for their high performance. Our Year 12 Health and Human Development students volunteered in FareShare's Schools in the Kitchen program, joining a wider network of volunteers to cook nutritious meals for Victorians demonstrating leadership and compassion. During

National Science Week, our Year 12 Science and STEM students rose to the challenge of leading interactive and fun science demonstrations for our primary students.

In Term 2 and Term 3, Our Class of 2022 explored different pathway options during their visits to the 2022 VCE and careers expo at the Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne University, and RMIT. Many discussions took place, plans were made and reassessed upon the valuable advice of higher education representatives, and our students’ experience of different university atmospheres during excursions to institutions such as The University of Melbourne.

The Class of 2022 enjoyed every opportunity for wellbeing activities at school. During Book Week, our youngest students, the Class of 2034,

joined the Class of 2022 in the annual Teddy Bear Picnic to play, learn, form friendships, and read a book. In Term 3 and 4 Our Food Studies team generously opened the commercial kitchen to our Year 12 students during their wellbeing sessions to spend bonding time together where they cooked, baked, and learnt more about nutrition. At the end of Term 3, Year 12 students enjoyed their Formal held on the Yarra River Cruise, where time with their peers and teachers will form memories for a lifetime.

We are looking forward to celebrating our Class of 2022 by enjoying a fun day at the Archie Brothers in Docklands followed by their Valedictory where, together with their families and teachers, we will celebrate the achievements and the bright futures that await our newest graduates.

DR AMER IBRAHIM BASHA HEAD OF YEAR 12

At SCG we enjoy the rich relationships our students share with their peers and other year groups. Our annual Teddy Bear Picnic brings these relationships to the forefront and this year was no different.

The Teddy Bear Picnic is a long-standing SCG tradition that sees our youngest students play, learn, and form friendships with our most senior students. With this year’s Picnic held for the first time during Book Week, it was wonderful to see students connect with one another through books and stories.

2022 STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL

MACKENZIE SYKES VICE CAPTAIN

VED PADMAWAR VICE CAPTAIN

RUBY SPITERI STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

TIANA MARNIK STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

DUT GARANG STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

SHIVEN VYAS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

SATVIK ARVETI VENKATA NAGA STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

ZAYAAN TABISH STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

ABHAY VERMA STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

VERONICA KASZKIEL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

MADDY SALOMON-BEST STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

YASH PADMAWAR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

LUCAS WOJTON STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

PRAPTI DUTTA STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

KHADIJA FAISAL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

VERNICA KHANNA STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

ETHAN VO STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

We were honoured to welcome the Honourable

PALLAVI REDDY SCHOOL CAPTAIN

ANTONIO MAGRO SCHOOL CAPTAIN

AIMEE VUKOJA VICE CAPTAIN

AMELIE HARRISON VICE CAPTAIN

BLAKE MACPHERSON VICE CAPTAIN

JANA ABU-HASSAN VICE CAPTAIN

Natalie Hutchins MP, Minister of Education and Women, to SCG in Term 3.

In 2022 we introduced a suite of cutting-edge tech for learning, including an Aerial Drone and much more. Students have enjoyed learning to use the drone in preparation for camps and events, and around our campus, and capturing peak experiences and our thriving campus.

O�

LEARNING REPORTS

WATCH THE AERIAL DRONE HYPERLASE OF OUR CAMPUS

NUMERACY

In a primary mathematics classroom students are provided with opportunities to persist when solving challenging tasks to develop the skills and dispositions needed to be agile problem solving adults.

In 2022 the Primary Staff at SCG explored Mathematical Proficiency (Understanding, Fluency, Reasoning and Problem Solving) as a way to describe, teach and learn mathematics. We also provided students with opportunities to develop these four Proficiency Stands and engage in deeper learning of the content through a specific focus on how to solve challenging problems.

PAUL STANISCIA

DEPUTY HEAD OF PRIMARY

From Foundation to Year 6 students explored a range of mathematics concepts and used a variety of strategies to discuss thinking and reasoning.

Further real-world connections were made relevant across the mathematics classrooms, with students understanding the mathematics in celebrating 100 Days of School, creating market stalls, and the probability of scoring goals from various angles in sporting events, just to name a few.

The Key Ideas of Number have been a strong focus at SCG and ensuring fluency is continued to be explored and developed remains. In 2022, students played games, shared understandings and explicitly learnt strategies in order to become fluent in mathematics.

We competed in both the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) Competition and Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC), where we had a good representation

and are extremely proud of our students’ achievements. We look forward to participating in these competitions again in 2023 and exploring further opportunities.

Further real-world connections were made relevant across the mathematics classrooms, with students understanding the mathematics in celebrating 100 Days of School, creating market stalls, and the probability of scoring goals from various angles in sporting events, just to name a few.

Knowing that the connection between school and home plays an important role in developing understanding, we explored digital tools that can assist us in continuing the learning at home whilst including families in that learning process.

This included the use of MathsSeeds in F-2 and Essential Assessment in 3-6. Although these programs did not form the teaching and learning in our classrooms, nor are they the only way we leverage from digital tools, we hope that they allowed families to gain an insight into what has been explored, and provided opportunities for our students to continue to build understanding.

We are eager to further enhance this connection between school and home through various ways in 2023.

In 2022, students played games, shared understandings and explicitly learnt strategies in order to become fluent in mathematics.

2022 has been a year where we have been able to reconnect in face-toface learning and our mathematics classrooms have befitted from this through collaborative experiences, direct instruction and high-quality teaching and learning.

I have been fortunate enough to experience and support the rich learning through teaching, observing and collaborative planning with teachers and am excited to continue to grow as a school community.

Mathematics is multi-faceted and our FoundationYear 4 students explored shapes, angles, and rotations during their Planks incursion.

LITERACY

At Southern Cross Grammar, our vision is to grow lifelong learners. This year students were immersed in high quality literature, having been introduced to rich and challenging texts, and the power of stories.

CARA SHARPE LITERACY COORDINATOR

At Southern Cross Grammar, our vision is to grow lifelong learners. By learning together, we become exceptional readers and writers, confident speakers, and thoughtful listeners. We recognise and place great value on literacy skills as an essential tool for achievement in all areas of the curriculum, as well as in later life. We want our students to speak, read and write fluently, enabling them to understand and communicate ideas and emotions to others.

This year, teachers immersed students in high quality literature and encouraged their classes to develop a passion for reading that will last a lifetime. Students were encouraged to read for pleasure and to read across the curriculum to support their knowledge and understanding in all subjects. Reading lessons were taught daily so that students learnt the skills necessary for decoding and understanding texts. Teachers used a range of approaches, including whole class reading and targeted groups to enable all children to make progress.

Students were introduced to rich and challenging texts, completing a range of tasks and reading responses.

These tasks focused on specific reading skills such as predicting, inferring characters feelings or retrieving information using evidence from the text. Teachers chose high

quality texts to inspire and engage their learners.

Year 5 students delved into their author study of Chris Van Allsburg and investigated the magnificent illustrations and rich storytelling to understand the themes and characters. Ted Hughes’ ‘The Iron Man’ was a fantastic stimulus in Year 3. Students developed their vocabulary and comprehension in order to enrich their own writing with descriptive language.

This year, teachers immersed students in high quality literature and encouraged their classes to develop a passion for reading that will last a lifetime.

This year, the Primary School has continued to amaze with the creativity and quality of writing.

Year 1 students worked hard on developing their narrative skills using ‘Talk for Writing’. Using spoken activities to build oral language skills, the students developed their confidence and linguistic ability in order to craft their writing.

We recognise and place great value on literacy skills as an essential tool for achievement in all areas of the curriculum, as well as in later life. We want our students to speak, read and write fluently, enabling them to understand and communicate ideas and emotions to others.

Year 6 students showcased their wonderfully imaginative fractured fairy tales to the Foundation students and together both year levels worked collaboratively to build impenetrable houses for the Three Little Pigs.

Year 4 students dived into ‘The Firework Maker’s Daughter’ by Philip Pullman and used drama as a source to stimulate imagination and understanding.

Finally, Year 2 student’s exposition writing was a huge success. Students orally presented speeches during class debates and persuaded teachers from across our school.

The Primary School are beyond excited and eager to see what 2023 has to offer!

VCE REPORT

Our VCE students have excelled this year thanks to their strong partnership with their teachers, the ability to once again venture out into the world, and the introduction of continuous reporting.

Our VCE students have excelled this year. In partnership with their teachers, the growth and progress of student results has been visible. With the introduction of continuous reporting, parents have had the ability to join their children on the learning journey by keeping abreast of the peaks and troughs of VCE, making the experience a more supported and well-rounded one.

PERSONALISED LEARNING REPORT

We constantly look for ways to strenghten the link between home and school to improve student outcomes, and in 2022 we made great leaps to maximise this link with the adoption of continuous reporting.

MEGAN UNTHANK HEAD OF VCE

Classes have made the most of the world opening up again, taking students on many excursions. To name just a few:

• The Physics team enjoyed a jaunt to Luna Park to measure forces and experience physics in action.

• The Literature team hiked Hanging Rock for a picnic to experience Joan Lindsay’s novel firsthand.

• The PE group enjoyed their day out at URBNSURF to put their knowledge about the muscular system into practice.

• Biology went to the Melbourne University genetics lab to expand their knowledge on inheritance and evolution.

• The Global Politics class joined a mock United Nations competition to demonstrate their understanding of this crucial element of global governance.

All this hands-on immersion has seen students take concepts and skills and test them in the ‘real world’. One of the key intentions from VCAA about the VCE is that we are able to apply our learning into practical and useful ways. The way teachers have been able to do this both inside the classroom and out has seen our students develop a deeper and more rich understanding of the curriculum and this has been reflected in their class participation, homework and assessments.

We are proud of all of our VCE students. Each student has a different set of goals and we are privileged to support them all on their individual journeys. For our Year 12 students, it may feel like the hard work is yet to come with exams around the corner, I want to remind you that this last phase is an opportunity to demonstrate all you have learned over the two-year program and to remember that there are almost infinite pathways to get where you want to go. To our younger students, I hope you’ve seen how hard-working our VCE students are and aspire to make the most of it when your time comes.

Good luck to everyone expecting results from VCAA this year and we look forward to celebrating this significant achievement with you all.

SUZANNE HELOU HEAD OF PERSONALISED LEARNING AND CONTINUOUS REPORTING

At Southern Cross Grammar we value our partnership with families in their child's learning and are constantly at the forefront in searching for ways to strengthen the link between home and school to improve student outcomes.

As the Head of Continuous Reporting and Personalised Learning, I have worked strategically to support Southern Cross Grammar's student-centred approach to increase opportunities for students' individual improvement. Using an evidence-based approach have worked with teaching staff throughout the year to ensure that individual students' progress could be accessed and followed by parents, teachers, and students themselves.

The most significant upgrade to our partnership with parents in 2022 was the adoption of continuous reporting in the Secondary School for parents and students to receive timely feedback in a much quicker turnaround. This has enabled transparent feedback on how to build students’ strengths or work on areas of improvement, to enable students to reach their full potential.

By giving parents increased visibility of their child's performance, timely feedback, and the opportunity to connect with our staff on a regular basis, continuous reporting has been a significant step forward for parents in being

informed of their child's progress and giving students further ownership of their learning. Staff worked diligently and collegiately to adapt to this new way of sharing their assessments and advice with parents, and have continued to share actionable feedback and advice on student work to further support their learning.

Behind the scenes, have worked with key staff at Southern Cross Grammar and led the adoption of Intellischool: Albitros, a data analysis platform that works with our student management system to allow teachers to view students' performance and achievements from NAPLAN and PAT tests, to classroom assessments in a much more visual and accessible format.

The full strength of this new and significant tool for teachers will be felt in 2023 as an even bigger step forward for personalisation in allowing teachers to know where students are placed academically and to plan the next steps in a more evidence-based and visually accessible manner. Parents and students will have access to their individual profiles once the platform is released.

The ubiquity of English as a spoken language often means it is taken for granted as a subject — ‘What will I use English for?’ is a catch cry of many a student, understandably hesitant to launch into a tough discussion about a particular novel or reflect on difficult themes and issues addressed by an author.

The ubiquity of English as a spoken language often means it is taken for granted as a subject — ‘What will use English for?’ is a catch cry of many a student, understandably hesitant to launch into a tough discussion about a particular novel or reflect on difficult themes and issues addressed by an author.

the school. If one were to be the colloquial ‘fly on the wall’ for a day in the new Centauri library then this would perhaps provide the greatest insight into the opportunities the new building has afforded both the English department and the broader school community.

and we look excitedly to 2023 as we make even greater use of the library and the opportunity to show students how reading, and English, can be incorporated into our routines in a way which enhances learning across all subjects.

texts. The Year 12 students thoroughly enjoyed the Teddy Bear’s Picnic with Foundation students; an opportunity to be reminded of the enthusiasm and wonder of beginning ones reading journey.

JONATHAN LAKE HEAD OF ENGLISH

As teachers we understand the challenges in encouraging students to read; there is a whole world’s worth of movies, YouTube videos, and yes, Tik-Toks, aimed at young people; why should they spend time reading a book?

In 2022 the English team have embraced the challenge of guiding our students to be questioning, curious learners; young people who feel equipped to face the world as a result of their engagement with diverse narratives that broaden their understanding of the world. We continue to see that by engaging critically and thoughtfully with texts, students are in turn prepared to engage critically and thoughtfully with life.

This year the pall of potential lockdowns or remote learning receded, and students eagerly embraced a more predictable routine and the opportunities it afforded for an authentic personal investment in learning. The efforts of English teachers to generate a nurturing and stimulating environment has been aided by the wonderful new facilities in

In the morning, as sun begins to flood the library and the space gradually warms, staff and keen students can be seen milling around the café, eventually peeling off, coffee or hot chocolate in hand, to a quieter corner of the library to take stock of the day ahead or squeeze in a few pages of their current read. As the morning bell sounds, VCE students make use of the study nooks or the shared study tables.

A class of Year 7 or 8 students occasionally move into the library, inspecting the latest novels on the shelves and choosing books to check-out. Throughout the day a gentle wave of students flows in and out, and by midafternoon the library is dotted with students making the most of the space to catch-up on homework or read a book.

Even at 5pm, as the sun casts a golden glow over the space, a group of Year 12 students can be seen gathered around Dr Cholewa who facilitates a rigorous discussion on their current text. It has been such a pleasure to see these new rhythms develop naturally,

In 2022 the English team have embraced the challenge of guiding our students to be questioning, curious learners; young people who feel equipped to face the world as a result of their engagement with diverse narratives that broaden their understanding of the world.

A visit by popular author Felice Arena was a standout event for many students; hearing a writer discuss their creative journey never fails to inspire students to consider the development of their own ‘writer’s voice’.

The Book Week activities in collaboration with the Primary School saw students across the Secondary School reading with their younger peers—taking the lead with discussions on themes, characters, and ideas in

Literature students in Years 11 and 12 enjoyed an excursion to ‘Hanging Rock’, exploring the interplay between the rich and beautiful natural landscape and the way in which it shapes texts. More recently, English Language students travelled to the State Library to explore the ‘World of The Book’ exhibition and consider the development of spoken and written English overtime, understanding how it is shaped be history, politics and media. The broad range of activities is testament to not only the breadth of the subject, but also reminds us that all students may find a way to connect to English.

In 2022 it has been such a pleasure seeing students grow in their confidence as things have returned to some semblance of ‘normal’.

This year we have all embraced the opportunity for a more personalised rhythm with which to move through life — the department will continue to invite others to see how reading, and

engaging critically with the world, can be adopted into our daily rhythm, if for nothing less than to enrich ones lived experience.

Clear skies above Hanging Rock, captured during the Years 11-12 Literature excursion

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics is all around us, from the nightly news report quoting data to the plumbing isle at Bunnings, and in the angles and geometry of the PVC pipes. Our students have been busy applying it to their daily lives.

JAMES MOTT HEAD OF MATHEMATICS

There is a healthy mathematics culture at Southern Cross Grammar, as evident in the voluntary participation of over 150 students in the Australian Maths Competition this year. Our results were strong, which reflects the consistent efforts of both students and teachers over the years at Southern Cross Grammar. 22 Participation certificates were awarded, along with 75 Proficiency, 72 Credit, and 26 Distinction. There were three students who achieved a High Distinction: Chloe Findlay, Shipra Shipra, and Alexander Fu. Our students should be proud of their efforts in attempting the competition and in the results that they achieved.

In addition to the Australian Mathematics Competition, some students also participated in the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) competition; a problemsolving competition designed to encourage student curiosity and promote multiple modes of thinking. The critical thinking and problem-solving skills utilised in this activity are transferable across all disciplines, not just maths! This year, SCG hosted the Mathematics Association of Victoria’s Year 9 Maths Game Day with 55 teams, 28 schools, and 240 students in attendance. Our very own Veronica Kaszkiel, Helena Labus, Connor

Muse, Carmen Ooi, Justin Pham, Tariq Singh, Olivia Skrekovski, and Rocy Wang from Year 9 wonderfully represented SCG throughout the day.

Teams worked in groups of four to solve KenKen puzzles (a Japanese logic puzzle), engage in problem-solving activities, collaborated with students from visiting schools, and raced against the clock in a maths relay (some of the runners would have made Usain Bolt sweat!). The teams from SCG finished equal 13th and 16th. A mighty feat for our first time competing. Our students should be incredibly proud of their achievement and courage for participating in the MAV Games Day. A special thanks to Mr Wildsmith, Ved Padmarwar, Antonio Magro, and Rithik Goli for helping throughout the day. The event wouldn't have run as smoothly if not for their great assistance.

We hope to build upon the events of 2022 and offer more opportunities and events for students at SCG to in engage with mathematical thinking in 2023.

In the words of the late mathematician, William Thurston, “Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding.”

SCIENCE / STEM

This year the Science/STEM team were fortunate to learn and teach in our new STEM Precinct: a space designed for the true nature of science.

The STEM Precinct, with its purposefully designed laboratories allowed our students to use the Scientific Method and the Design Thinking Process to pursue areas of research and experimentation in a genuine manner.

ANGIE ATAL CARREON HEAD OF SCIENCE AND STEM

In the STEM Makers Lab, our Year 7/8 Select Entry students used the space to develop their collaboration skills with their peers, teachers and field exports. Projects such as the Micro:bit inchworm, the 3D-printed CO2 cars, the development of an educational resource about the denigration of the Victorian Grasslands and the study of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biofuels allowed our younger secondary students to foster their passion for the inquisitive nature of science.

Biology students developed interpersonal skills working with their teachers and laboratory technicians to study factors affecting plant growth in the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory. This developed students’ understanding of the principles of biology and botany. Chemistry and Physics students accessed data logging equipment to study a range of concepts such as electrochemistry and forces. The Engineering Laboratory was a haven for System Engineering students as they practised a variety of practical skills related to mechanical systems.

Beyond the classroom, our science students excelled in numerous external competitions. For the first time in Southern Cross Grammar’s history, we participated and performed excellently at the Quantum Victoria Print-ACar Challenge. We had five participants of the International Chemistry Quiz from Year 11 and 12 achieving either a Distinction or High Distinction.

Minor and major bursary awards were won for computer programs, posters, creative writing, and photography at the Science Talent Search. Select Year 9 and 10 students participated with success in the Junior Science Olympiad and some of our Year 7 and 8 students also achieved outstanding results in the Big Science Competition.

National Science Week was acknowledged across the school and this year we were able to celebrate science in a fun and interactive manner. Our senior students led science demonstrations for our primary students and the ‘Battle of the Sciences’ trivia and touchtyping competitions were enjoyed by many.

As we reflect on 2022, we look forward as a faculty to the continued growth and development of our curriculum, educational activities, and involvement in external competitions to enhance the experience and learning for all teachers, students and the wider community in 2023.

LEAN MORE ABOUT THE STEM PRECINCT IN ISSUE 5 OF THE SCG MAGAZINE

NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK

National Science Week is a highlight on the Science calendar, and while the 2022 theme of National Science Week was Glass: more than meets the eye, at SCG we focused on the diverse nature of science that is all around us.

Our intention this year was to acknowledge all the hard work our students put into their science classes and co-curricular activities in a special display in the STEM Makers Lab. The student work displayed represented all sciences from Year 7 Earth and Space, Year 8 Biological Sciences, and Year 9 Chemical Sciences all the way through to Year 12 Psychology and Year 12 Chemistry. Student work from the Science Talent Search was also on display, highlighting the significant effort and talent of many of our students.

We also wanted to bring joy to our primary students by demonstrating some simple yet effective science experiments. Our celebrations this year were interesting and engaging because unlike previous years, our senior science students were given the opportunity to showcase the magical side of science under the guidance of Ms Melissa Blacklock. It was a privilege to watch our senior students step up to the challenge of running demonstrations for the primary students. The Year 12s with grace, humour and some theatrics were able to engage their audience and inspire some of the younger students to be involved in the sciences. Some of the experiments included the use of dry ice to demonstrate clouds, the flame tests to change the colour of a flame, a centrifugal swing, sound tubes, an air blaster and Ms Blacklock’s Whoomph Bottle.

There were also some in-house competitions held during the week. The glass poetry competition gave students the opportunity to share their understanding of glass. The Battle of the Sciences saw teams of senior science students compete with one another in a trivia competition. Aidan Andrews, Maximus Gener, and Pride Raina who represented Year 11 Chemistry won this year’s Battle. The touch-typing competition saw serious competition between the participants and James Segalla form Year 11 finished victorious.

The week finished with the successful qualification of our very first SCG Quantum Victoria Print-A-Car entry. Zaid Rustom, Saksham Nagpal and Jamie Stagg of the Year 7/8 Select Entry STEM program (nicknamed the Speed Demons) raced their 3D printed car against some of the best schools in Victoria, and with very fast race times as well as an established digital portfolio the Speed Demons will be racing in the finals in November.

The success of National Science Week at SCG can be attributed to the collaborative effort by our science students and teachers who have a shared understanding of the importance of bringing people together to celebrate science. We are looking forward to celebrating National Science Week in 2023.

CREATIVE ARTS

2022 was a truly elevated year for the Creative Arts. From our first lessons in the Centauri Centre’s studios to our primary art show, students took what they knew and watered seeds that truly grew.

Students were eager to express their creativity back in the classroom after two tough and albeit, restrictive years. Their achievements, documented in this Yearbook, are a celebration of their learning and resilience, and attest to their sheer talent and dedication.

drawing specifications to design a range of environmental designs.

SHERIDAN PAULKA SECONDARY TEACHER

Primary and Secondary classes were finally able to visit some of Victoria’s most celebrated galleries and participate in workshops that promoted the development of the transferable creative problem solving skills that the arts foster and hold very dear. Inspired by a variety of artists and designers, students created masterpieces and design solutions that were clever, diverse, wearable, and uniquely theirs.

Our Primary students explored a range of art forms in which they transformed everyday objects into collaborative carpets, repurposed old textiles and applied a range of art elements and principles to create moody selfportraits. They were guided by themes that allowed them to showcase what makes them special and reimagine Melbourne city scapes; which were all displayed in our Elevate Primary Art Show.

Middle school students learnt and applied Australian impressionist techniques to create landscapes, designed bold and striking depictions of suburbia, produced whimsy self-portraits, and explored technical

Our Year 12 Visual Communication Design students engaged wholeheartedly in the design process, generating and developing visual communications that utilised advanced industry machines, notably, our laser cutter and 3D ceramic printer. Students considered aesthetics and function, as well as social, cultural and environmental factors to complete Final Presentations which are undoubtedly a cut above the rest. The Creative Arts Department is so proud of how they have navigated their way through the design landscape and their willingness to push beyond.

Year 12 Studio Art students kicked off their studio process through broadening their critical, reflective, and creative thinking. They welcomed opportunities to try new art forms, materials and processes. The Creative Arts Department are incredibly proud of your ability to take on feedback to build individual style and aesthetics as both artist and audience.

We are beyond excited to see what 2023 will hold for our students and their creative practice journeys.

Artwork by Aina Tan Year 6 Visual Art

Artwork by Amanat Sidhu Year 8 Contemporary Art

Artwork by Bella Torres-Gomez Year 4 Visual Art

Artwork by Lachlan Nguyen Year 2 Visual Art

Artwork by Sachitha Dinessh Year 12 Visual Communication Design

Artwork by Tianyi Wang Year 8 Contemporary Art

Artwork by Eashan Jha Year 1 Visual Art

Artwork by Evan Le Year 8 Contemporary Art

Artwork by Levi Tselepis Year 1 Visual Art

Artwork by Talia Chambers Year 10 Studio Arts

Artwork by Jerome Georges Year 5 Visual Art

Artwork by Sachitha Dinessh Year 12 Visual Communication Design

Artwork by Mel Phuengchetsada Subject

Artwork by Jasmin Thai Year 10 Studio Arts

Artwork by Janene Tran Year 3 Visual Art

Artwork by Yuina Tan Year 2 Visual Art

Artwork by Dien Tran Year 10 Studio Arts

LANGUAGES

It has been a joy to watch students communicate and collaborate closely with one another to apply Chinese in real life, and embrace opportunities to experience a myriad of cultural events.

ELIN LIN HEAD OF LANGUAGES

2022 has been a year of reconnecting as our school community returned to on-site learning, this time for the entire year. It has been a joy to watch students’ enjoyment in communicating and collaborating closely with one another to apply Chinese in real life. Apart from studying foundational knowledge of words and grammar in Chinese, as well as the skills of writing essays and engaging in verbal communication, 2022 has given students the chance to fully embrace opportunities to experience a myriad of cultural events both at school and in Melbourne.

Firstly, we want to congratulate the Year 12 Chinese students who have dedicated tremendous amount of effort to thrive in VCE Chinese oral and written exams. The quality of work you demonstrated has continued to amaze us, especially when you discussed a Chinese movie and drafted academic essays completely in Chinese independently. This deserves my heartfelt applauding and appreciation. Your achievement never goes unnoticed. We hope your journey with VCE Chinese rewards you beyond your imagination.

Our Year 8-12 Chinese elective students had an amazing immersive linguistic and cultural experience with the Confucius Institute at The University of Melbourne. Highlights included doing Chinese calligraphy, making Chinese tea, wrapping dumplings and eating them afterwards, as well as dressing up as ancient Chinese characters in palace. What was more

exciting was they got to eat the best Chinese hot pot in Melbourne CBD, Panda Hot Pot, and ordered food in Chinese to prepare them for the experience of a trip to China someday, if they chose to visit!

As part of the Year 7 curriculum students studied several topics like family, holidays, numbers, dates and time, appearances, and countries. They practised speaking to each other in class, as well as creating recordings of themselves asking and answering questions from their own written scripts. These recordings were a powerful showcase of how students have grown and developed their communication skills in Chinese. Students also learned to write and read some characters, preparing them for further study next year. They also researched cultural and geographical aspects of Chinese culture, presenting their findings to their classes.

With the traditional SCG Lion Dance ushering in Chinese New Year in Term 1, Primary School students were energised to continue their foundation building in Chinese language learning. Given how much they have improved in pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and sentence making, students should feel very proud and stand ready to take on new topics in the Languages program.

We congratulate our students on what they have learned and achieved this year. We look forward to having a momentous year together as a Languages community in 2023.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

2022 saw our students jump back into the rhythm of sport as they challenged themselves, learnt new skills, and achieved success on campus and off campus in the wider community.

2022 was a year filled with success, achievement, and growth across Health and Physical Education. We had a number of students represent their region and state in a range of different sports as well as experiencing much success in our Interschool Sports Program from Year 5 through to Year 12.

The integration of sports science tech equipment such as heart rate monitors, GPS units and VO2 Max equipment continues to enrich Health and Physical Education lessons and provide students with learning opportunities beyond their years.

LIAM OGDEN HEAD OF HEALTH AND PE

Our Primary School students continued to focus on their fundamental motor skills whilst further developing their teamwork, communication and leadership skills throughout a variety of Units such as the We Run it Program in Years 5 and 6. In the Middle Years there was a key focus on collaboration throughout the Health units studied where students applied and developed their teamwork and communication skills towards creating meaningful presentations to broaden the knowledge and understanding of their peers in individual and community health.

It was fantastic to be able to bring back the F-6 Swim Program after years of cancellations. For most of our Primary School Students, this was the first Swim Program they have participated in which consisted of a swim lesson every day for a week. It was great to be able to get our students into the water, having fun, learning important swim safety skills and growing in confidence and competence.

The new auditorium was an excellent learning space for our PE classes when faced with challenging weather. Our F-4 students enjoyed using space to complete dance and fitness activities while the 5-12year levels were able to remain active by utilising the new table tennis equipment. The addition of the auditorium and table tennis equipment certainly assisted with training and preparing our interschool sports teams where our Senior Mixed Team won the state championship title!

Our Year 9 Outdoor Education students braved the elements this year at Wilsons Promontory in what was a camp to remember. 100km winds, heavy rain and close encounters with friendly animals provided unique experiences and lifelong stories and memories. The weather didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of the group and they managed to continue on with their daily activities that consisted of Kayaking, hiking the Lilly Pilly Gully circuit as well as reaching the top of Mount Bishop and Telegraph Saddle.

PERFORMING ARTS: MUSIC

2022 has been a phenomenal year for SCG's Music program with the excitement of the Centauri Centre and many opportunities for performances enjoyed by our community.

2022 has been an exciting year for the Music program at SCG. Students have had a range of opportunities to learn, share, and develop their skills in music performance within the school’s new music and performing arts facilities in the Centauri Centre.

ROBERT GRAHAM HEAD OF MUSIC

There were many highlights and experiences for students involved in the music program including outstanding music performances within the school’s Centauri Auditorium and AMEB examinations hosted within our Music and Performing Arts Centre. Students had the opportunity to engage in an extensive music and ensemble program run across F-12 as well as the option of participating in the school’s Instrumental music program.

2022 saw the expansion of our ensemble offerings at SCG, with the introduction of the SCG Big Band and String Orchestra being welcome additions to our thriving choral and ensemble program.

Primary Years (F-6)

In the primary years, students participated in an engaging F-6 music curriculum where they explored, performed, listened to, and created a variety of music to develop important music literacy skills. From Foundation to Year 1, students enjoyed developing their singing voice and learnt to perform to the beat together using their body and percussion instruments. In Year 2, students learnt violin,

viola, and cello for the whole year with a focus on posture, tone, and technique whilst learning how to develop a good listening ear.

Students have had a range of opportunities to learn, share, and develop their skills in music performance within the school’s new music and performing arts facilities in the Centauri Centre.

In Years 3 and 4, students applied and extended their music reading and performance skills as they learned to play the ukulele and compose music using ICT. Students performed as soloists and discovered various skills needed to perform as part of an ensemble.

Year 5 Band expanded its offerings again this year with the introduction of new low Brass and low Woodwind instrumentation to balance our ensembles. How exciting it was to unwrap the new Euphoniums and Bass Clarinets in February. The students worked steadily all year, with the highlight being their performances at the Music Information Night in May and the trip to Victorian Schools Band Festival in November.

Year 6 Advanced Music students worked at an astonishing rate this year and continued to cement the fundamentals of their craft, both

through a structured theory and aural course, and through their performances. They competently performed at a variety of events including assemblies, class assessments, instrumental and class soirees, and at school functions.

Secondary Years

(Years 7-9):

Select Entry Music was the very epitome of an accelerated course this year with students working well above expected level. These students performed for the Exhibition of Learning in Semester 1, at group and solo performance recitals, an open performance recital for parents as well as at assemblies and events external to the college.

All Year 7 Students participated in Creative Industries – Sound and Vision, where they developed industry-standard skills using state-of-the-art equipment and software. Students learnt how to compose and arrange music using Digital Audio Workstations, operate professional theatre equipment such as DMX lighting controllers and create multimedia installations using projection art.

Year 9 Music students worked hard to advance their skills and knowledge, and for some, to and prepare for early entry

to VCE music in 2023. Year 9 students performed in a variety of contexts both internally and externally this semester. A particular highlight was their Solo Performance Recital in Term 4.

Secondary Years (Years 10-12)

In 2022, our Year 10-12 students were provided with many opportunities to participate in a range of music and technical production pathways, with students enrolled in VET Music Industry – Performance and Sound Production as well as VCE Music Performance.

Our performance students worked admirably to prepare and refine a highquality music performance program which was presented to a range of audiences throughout the year. Students composed, arranged, improvised, and developed a sophisticated understanding of music conventions, including listening and analysis and music language.

Student performances, including the school production of Matilda the Musical, were well-supported by our Sound Production Team who gained valuable experience operating advanced audio equipment. In addition to this, they developed an advanced

mastery of professional recording techniques to develop, mix and master music recordings.

With such great feats made in 2022— the launch of the Centauri Centre, Matilda the Musical, and music events to name a few—the music team look ahead to the many performance opportunities and learning students will accomplish in 2023.

The Grand Piano has been a highlight in the auditorium for our young musicians.

PERFORMING ARTS: DRAMA

Throughout 2022, students were offered a rich and varied Drama and Performing Arts Program at Southern Cross Grammar, with many opportunities to refine their dramatic and technical skills.

Throughout 2022, students were offered a rich and varied Drama and Performing Arts Program at Southern Cross Grammar, with many opportunities to refine their dramatic and technical skills as well as present performances within the new Performing Arts facilities and auditorium.

TOLY SAWENKO DRAMA AND MEDIA TEACHER

In Year 6 Performing Arts, students independently and collaboratively performed, wrote and arranged dialogue, choral and choreography based on musical theatre and fairy tales. Students rehearsed parts of the Matilda the Musical production with their peers and performed this to an audience. They developed character through the four expressive skills of Performing Arts and learnt to memorise dialogue with the help of cue cards. Students auditioned for a theatre role which included narrating, lighting, costuming and sound, to present Cinderella with a Twist as part of their final assessment.

Year 8 students participated in another year of theatre technical and performance, this involved the selecting, development and performance of a class-based idea. We saw a classic of Beauty and Beast recontextualised into a modern-day school setting, and the creation of a poignant Drama titled My Week in Egypt (developed by students) which explored the complex relationship between Australian and Middle eastern cultures and the acceptance through culture and sport.

Crime themes dominated this class with two different takes on elaborate Jail break, The Art of Deception and Blind Sheep, Friendly Wolf: a murder mystery which kept audiences guessing.

Year 9 Drama rehearsed and performed a scene study of Patrick Barlow’s ‘The 39 Steps’, which is a comic tongue and cheek take on John Bucan’s and Alfred Hitchcock thriller masterpiece. There were sudden escapes, absurd misunderstandings, and an accidental romance which sweeps the audience off their feet. Students also researched and prepared for a production role with the entire production process being driven by students’ innovation and resourcefulness.

Year 10 Theatre Technical, made use of a scene study from a new adaption of an Australian classic ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ by Tom Wright. This Australian gothic production explores the mystery of three girls and a teacher who go missing near an iconic Victorian landmark. Exploring themes of gender, equality, and Australian identity, this piece recreated the early events as the girls are reported missing and the police investigation ensues. Students from this class also researched and planned for the production roles from costume to set design, resulting in a successful production.

Getting stage-ready during the Years 7-9 Design Learning Exhibition

FOOD STUDIES

As a new academic year dawned over Southern Cross Grammar, the Centauri Centre was rising before our eyes like the sun slowly peering over the horizon at the start of a new day.

The new Food Studies programme had to launch regardless of the location so M22 was commandeered for Term 1 while the students started practicing their culinary skills in the classroom and kitchenette.

In spite of limited equipment, the students took to the programme like ducks to water and enjoyed making a range of no-bake slices, decorating biscuits, chocolate truffles and cutting fruit into precision shapes.

those special chocolate treats to take home. Semester Two saw fresh faces to the kitchen and challenge of managing their learning and navigating around the equipment in conjunction with producing a range of recipes starting from a basic introductory Chocolate truffle to Lemon Semolina cake and Mediterranean Risotto utilising the new commercial equipment.

STEVEN LASCELLES FOOD STUDIES TEACHER

It was a challenging environment, however the students seemed to have really enjoyed it as we moved into the new kitchen space for Term 2. Now we could really rev things up. The Year 7s had only had a few weeks experience in the commercial kitchen when a small troupe volunteered to assist with the Year 12 Induction evening.

Through the hard work, the team rose to the occasion and presented the best selection of hors d'oeuvres we could. I, and the team were so proud of what we achieved and I think this will go down as one of the most memorable moments of the year for these students.

A highlight for the middle and senior Food Studies students was the trip to the Yarra Valley Chocolatier where they learnt the ins and outs about running the facility, delved into the sensual world of chocolate making and perused the offerings in the shop for

Now as the sun sets on another year at SCG, we await the dawn of a new one and new experiences.

SPORT (7-12)

Our much-anticipated return to a full interschool sport program was a triumph this year with more students than ever competing in a variety of sports, and progresing to Regional and State Finals.

In 2022 Southern Cross Grammar returned to a full program of interschool sport. Students in Years 7-12 competed in a number of team and individual sports against schools from around Victoria. Participating in the School Sport Victoria Maribyrnong Division, we entered a record number of teams across a variety of sports with some teams progressing to Regional and State Finals.

LOUIS

HEAD OF SPORT (7-12)

We entered strong teams in the Maribyrnong Division Swimming, Cross Country and Track and Field carnivals, with multiple students qualifying for the Western Region championships. It was wonderful to see students enjoying the spirit of school sport competition and doing their personal best as they represented SCG. A highlight for our Swim Team was our Year 7/8 Girls winning bronze in the medley relay, at the Western Region Swimming in Geelong.

During Term 1, teams for Volleyball, Tennis and Cricket were selected and teams worked hard at training in preparation for the Division carnival. Volleyball was the most popular sport for our students, as SCG entered multiple teams in each age group category.

Our Year 7 Girls Tennis and Year 9-10 Girls Tennis teams enjoyed success, winning at the Division stage. Other winning teams included the Year 8 Boys Cricket and Year 9-10 Boys Cricket.

Throughout the winter season our Soccer, Netball and Basketball and Table Tennis teams continued our successful run with more teams qualifying for the Regional Finals. The SCG school spirit was on full display as students represented the school with pride and enthusiasm, at times in the challenging winter conditions. The Year 7 Girls Soccer and Year 9-10 Boys Soccer teams qualified and progressed to the Western Regionals, after winning the Maribyrnong Division. Other teams to enjoy success included the Year 8 Boys Table Tennis and the Year 7 Boys Basketball.

A highlight for the year was our Year 11-12 Table Tennis team who won Gold in the State Table Tennis Finals, following their earlier wins at the Western Region and Maribyrnong Division Championships. Their win is one for SCG’s history books as our first sports team to win a state championship. A massive congratulations to Hannah, Olivia, Saif, and Bestavros.

Congratulations to all students who were involved in school sport this year. We look forward to continuing to build on our successes this year as we look forward to many great sporting opportunities ahead for our students.

MARTIN

A highlight for the year was our Year 11-12 Table Tennis Team who won Gold in the State Table Tennis Finals.

HUMANITIES

With 2022 being our first full year on campus, Humanities students and staff embarked on a learning journey that was personal, engaging, and transcended time and space.

Looking back on 2022, it was an exciting notion to ponder that there were no interruptions to the school year, which would see us return to remote teaching and learning. All four terms of the school year were on-site at our Inge Campus and enabled the teachers of the Humanities Department to embark on a learning journey, alongside our students, that was personal, engaging, and transcended time and space.

the Mordialloc beach. However, this did not dampen the excitement and enthusiasm of students towards future learning experiences.

LYDIA BRKIC HEAD OF HUMANITIES

Behind the scenes, teachers worked hard to plan incursions and excursions for our secondary students. At a number of year levels, students were able to explore a range of locations around Melbourne and connect with others, of all ages, beyond the SCG gates.

The teachers of the Humanities Department continue to foster a love of learning that is connected and relevant to the world around us.

The Year 7 cohort were taken to the Immigration Museum. This experience was spear-headed by Mr Watson to complement the Civics and Citizenship unit. Our Year 8 students enjoyed a Medieval Day in the Centauri auditorium as they explored arms, armour, costume, lifestyle, harm, healing, music, and dance. The fact that this experience was tangible and hands-on saw our students immerse themselves into the lives of those living in 500 to 1500 BCE.

Our VCE Politics students did SCG proud as they participated in the model United Nations (UN) conference at Bacchus Marsh College. Students were allocated to groups of nations from around the world and engaged in negotiations and discussions that addressed war, conflict and international security.

The Years 10 and 11 Legal Studies and Politics students headed into the top end of town at Spring Street to visit the Old Treasury Building and learn more about the law-making process in Victoria. Due to inclement weather and conflicting schedules, there was setbacks that saw some off-site learning experiences not come to fruition, such as the Wurundjeri Walking Tour, visits from local business owners and Year 10 Geography’s visit to

To provide additional support for students, Humanities Homework Club ran on a Friday recess in the new Centauri Centre. This opportunity allowed students to spend some of their break-time asking clarifying questions, completing assessments, and discussing issues of interest under the guidance of a Humanities teacher.

The teachers of the Humanities Department continue to foster a love of learning that is connected and relevant to the world around us. As I write this entry, Queen Elizabeth II has just died and her son will succeed her to the British throne. The interest surrounding these significant moments from the students has been considerable and therefore, our classrooms have been adaptive and responsive to these genuine moments of curiosity and interest.

For example, it is through Civics and Citizenship that students asked questions about the political systems that have shaped our society. In History and Geography, students explored the processes that have influenced, and will continue to influence, different societies and cultures. In Business and Economics, students posed questions about the circulation of currency and what will happen next, regarding the Mint’s production of legal tender, since Prince Charles becomes King. It is through the study of Humanities, that the students of SCG are able to contribute to the world around us as active, informed and responsible citizens into the future and beyond.

Year 8 Medevial Day, captured by Lincoln Jacobs

WELLBEING: CURRICULUM

LAUREN SMITH HEAD OF WELLBEING: CURRICULUM

2022 marked our second year of implementing our whole school wellbeing approach. Guided by last year’s Resilient Youth student wellbeing survey data, our F-12 wellbeing teachers continued to implement and develop our wellbeing curriculum with a specific focus on the areas that the 2021 survey revealed our students needed the most support with. This included sleep and device use, fostering connections, and school related stress and anxiety.

By sharing resources and articles through SchoolTV and the Resilience Project Parent and Carer Hub, there has also been a strong emphasis on including parents and families in our efforts to build knowledge and skills for positive mental health outcomes for our students. We hosted an intimate positive parenting workshop with Lael Stone in Semester 1. This workshop certainly provided a moment of reflection for all in the room, particularly the reminder of the powerful influence our self-talk has on our children.

We are pleased to share that our wellbeing curriculum and programs have already begun to demonstrate positive impacts. This year’s Resilient Youth student survey data has shown that our students have improved on the target areas identified in last year’s results. While ‘sleep and device use’ and ‘stress and anxiety’ still need a more targeted focus moving forward, it was still pleasing to

see there were some improvements this year. Another notable progress was made with ‘connections to a significant adult’.

By sharing resources and articles through SchoolTV and the Resilience Project Parent and Carer Hub, there has also been a strong emphasis on including parents and families in our efforts to build knowledge and skills for positive mental health outcomes for our students.

After the COVID-19 lockdown years, it is great to see students are showing signs of rebuilding and reforming relationships, particularly with a significant adult that they trust.

As part of our focus on connections, our Foundation and Year 12 students shared time together during Book Week for a Teddy Bear’s Picnic. There was certainly a buzz in the air and staff present at the event were humbled to watch the beautiful interactions between our youngest and oldest students.

Year 12 student Tehya Clarke-Oldani reflected that “the experience of sharing this special moment with the Foundations students warmed my heart. The Resilience Project has taught us that demonstrating kindness and

doing something nice for someone else releases oxytocin, which makes us feel good and reduces feelings of stress and anxiety.

“It was nice to take time out from the stress of our studies, and do something kind for another person. The immense joy from the Foundation students radiated throughout the Centauri Auditorium and it was an experience I will hold onto for a long time to come.”

This year’s survey data also revealed that moving forward post pandemic, there is a need to instil hope, particularly with adolescents.

Our Year 10 and 11 students participated in a workshop by Glen Gerreyn from the HopeFull Institute to support the fostering of hope for the future. After the last few years of overwhelmingly negative news through the media, our wellbeing curriculum will continue to focus on the concept of restoring hope for our students.

In 2022, we continued our external partnerships with Elephant Ed to educate our upper primary and secondary students on health and wellbeing topics focusing on sexual education, consent, respectful relationships, and diversity. The student

feedback from the workshops have been overwhelmingly positive and we are starting to see the positive impacts of the Elephant Ed program with our students.

We are pleased to share that our wellbeing curriculum and programs have already begun to demonstrate positive impacts.

Year 9 student Angelica Krstevska has enjoyed the workshops this year. She said, “The Elephant Ed workshops have been such a good learning experience for students. The topics covered are highly relevant in society, and the workshops are delivered in a sensitive and inclusive manner. I am looking forward to learning more next year as education on topics such as diversity and consent are very important for instilling respect for one another, not only at school, but also preparing us for our adult lives.”

Guided by last year’s Resilient Youth student wellbeing survey data, our F-12 wellbeing teachers continued to implement and develop our wellbeing curriculum.

APPLIED LEARNING

This year, Applied Learning students immersed themselves in different learning environments and created initiatives to benefit the school through productive collaborations within and outside the community.

What is Applied Learning? Is it new? Does it change how we teach? Does it change the way students learn?

SARAH COOPER HEAD OF APPLIED LEARNING

Applied Learning is an approach which emphasises the relevance of what is being learnt in the real world; the world outside the classroom, and it makes that connection as immediate and transparent as possible. Students who are prepared to apply themselves and participate in flexible learning approaches are ultimately able to demonstrate skills in authentic environments. Applied learning is not the easy option, or just for disengaged students or always handson; it connects learners to their interests and promotes success through authentic assessments and outcomes.

Opportunities for Applied Learning present themselves across all curriculum areas at SCG. In 2022, four students embraced the opportunity to complete their VCE in the form of the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning known as VCAL.

Our students embarked on a journey of reflecting on what they were interested in as learners, where they saw themselves in the future, and what they could do for the school community and themselves. VCAL students engage in their learning through coursework and time spent in the classroom, but they also spend one day a week completing a

VET course and one day a week on a work placement. It is important for our applied learning students to do this, not only to be awarded their VCAL at the end of Year 12 but because the whole idea behind applied learning is to get out there and do the thing you are interested in doing and getting engaged and invested in your own learning. Our students pursue various applied learning pathways such as electrotechnology, screen and media, automotive industries and music performance.

Our students embarked on a journey of reflecting on what they were interested in as learners, where they saw themselves in the future, and what they could do for the school community and themselves.

The students completed work ready modules as part of their preparation for being able to attend their work placements. This entailed reviewing WHS practices in different work places and work sites, including the Grand Prix and the Queen Victoria Market and then attending these work places as excursions. Students researched, designed and proposed a School Community Garden that would involve the use of school grounds, sustainable gardening practices, such as the

use of wicking beds, and collaboration with the VCE Biology team who provided us with seedlings.

Bunnings has been a major sponsor and contributor to the School Community Garden project and we have valued their support and continued interest in our students. The students also attended the Aboriginal Walk of the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens to better understand and appreciate the knowledge our First Nations people have ecology in Victoria.

Towards the end of Term 3 students held a Dinner for parents and teachers as a Thank You. Mr Dodd, Dr Basha, Ms Murrihy and the VCAL teachers, together with parents, were served an amazing array of charcuterie boards, cultural dishes, and dessert in the VCE Study Area. A big thank you to our Food Studies Learning Area for the use of the amazing industrial kitchen that is now an integral part of the learning that happens in the Centauri Centre.

Applied Learning will take on a new look in 2023 thanks to education reforms and will become further integrated into the VCE. This means that the VCE and VCAL certificates form

a new integrated senior secondary certificate, the VCE Vocational Major (VCE-VM) in 2023, to ensure every student has the skills they need to find rewarding careers and reach their full potential.

Under an integrated single certificate, all students will be able to build a program relevant to their specific strengths, interests and future aspirations through industry experience, hands-on work and relevant coursework with the support of staff and fellow students.

Next year, our current students will continue to pursue their various interests, including Electrotechnology, Early Childhood studies and Hairdressing. We look forward to seeing our students flourish and thrive as the VCE-VM continues to evolve and students understand the value of finding that thing that inspires them and supports their various pathways to success.

Thanks to our small but trailblazing team for their generosity, enthusiasm and care shown to our students.

As we reflect on 2022, we look forward, as a Learning Area, to the continued growth and development of the exciting

new VCE-VM certificate and curriculum, educational activities and involvement in School Community projects, to enhance the experience and learning for our students, staff and the wider SCG community in 2023.

Next year, our current students will continue to pursue their various interests, including Electrotechnology, Early Childhood studies and Hairdressing. We look forward to seeing our students flourish and thrive as the VCE-VM continues to evolve and students understand the value of finding that thing that inspires them and supports their various pathways to success.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CENTAURI CENTRE OUR SPECIAL ISSUE IN THE SCG MAGAZINE

O� OUR COMMUNITY

Book by Dennis Kelly

Music and Lyrics by Tim Minchin

Performed in the Centauri Centre over four shows on 4-6 August 2022.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL

Naughty children, awful adults, and a little bit of magic. 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

“Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world.” Roald Dahl’s hopeful words of his youngest heroine echoed throughout the stage and rehearsal rooms for the school’s first musical production in the Centauri Centre: ‘Matilda the Musical’.

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.

made as the cast and crew stepped into the Centauri Centre’s auditorium for the first time.

TOLY SAWENKO

DIRECTOR: MATILDA THE MUSICAL

Matilda was an instant classic when released, and with the Musical from Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly winning hearts around the world as the young child genius, Matilda, takes on the ignorance of her parents and headmistress, Roald Dahl’s savage humour but equally tender themes came to life 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.

As the production approached, backstage teams moved set pieces into position, preset 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

Beginning a tradition, the school convened a professional and 14-piece band who brought to life the tender messages of care and love, and the terrifyingly funny outbursts of the Wormwoods or Ms Trunchbull, all with effortless precision.

Thank you to the parents who gave so much of their time and effort to supporting students who undertook this colossal task. Thank you to the staff whose dedication and effort was unwavering to realise this production, you were and are magnificent! Finally, Thank you to the students on your incredible achievement. Your love, care and commitment to each other crossed galaxies, and left memories that will seldom fade with time.

Matilda was an instant classic when released, and with the Musical from Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly winning hearts around the world as the young child genius, Matilda, takes on the ignorance of her parents and headmistress, Roald Dahl’s savage humour but equally tender themes came to life at Southern Cross Grammar.

“Somewhere inside

is

Roald Dahl’s hopeful words of his youngest heroine echoed throughout the stage and rehearsal rooms for the school’s first musical production in the Centauri Centre: Matilda the Musical.

all of us

the power to change the world.”

VIEW PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PRODUCTION AND CAST INTERVIEWS

100 DAYS OF FOUNDATION

At Southern Cross Grammar, the 100th Day of School is a symbolic celebration of the Foundation students' achievements during their first 100 days of Primary School.

Hip, Hip, hooray!

We’ve just celebrated the 100th day! Of learning and growing at school. We’ve had so much fun and learnt a lot too!

All of our teachers and friends at SCG think that we’re pretty cool. We’re 100 days smarter, yes that’s true. 100 days of reading, writing, maths and playing with friends too. We wouldn’t have it any other way. Here’s what some of our Foundation students have to say:

"It’s been 100 days of school and I’m getting really smart. My brain is growing and so is my heart." —Zoe

"I’ve learnt to read and how to be kind, how to write words and do maths in my mind." —Adhvik

"School is more than just learning to read and write. We have also learnt to sing and our voices are a real delight! We have made our muscles stronger in PE and our artwork is the best you will see." —Sophia

At Southern Cross Grammar, the 100th Day of School is a symbolic celebration of the Foundation students' achievements during their first 100 days of primary school.

The event originally evolved as a way of developing students' understanding and recognition of numbers up to 100. Now we recognise that this important milestone is more than just that.

The 100th day of school marks a special opportunity for us to reflect upon and celebrate major milestones in our Foundation students' academic, social, and emotional successes.

Teaching is one of the world’s oldest careers. As a Foundation Teachers, we have been afforded the opportunity not only to teach but also to also mentor and guide our youngest learners as they grow – literally, as they grow!

Each day, we are thankful for the privilege and honour of being the student’s very first primary school teachers and setting the foundation for life-long learning.

Foundation students designed 100 Day superhero capes with their Year 5 Buddies.

Congratulations to all of our Foundation Students: the Class of 2034. Here’s to the next 100 days of school and beyond.

VICKY TEMUSKOS YANESKA TIAMIYU

The 100th day of school marks a special opportunity for us to reflect upon and celebrate major milestones in our Foundation students' academic, social, and emotional successes. WATCH

PARENTS AND FRIENDS COMMITTEE REPORT

2022 was year of connection, and celebration for our community as PFC events returned on-site to much joy including beloved Mother’s and Father’s Day Stalls, Parent Nights, and School events.

In the spirit of community, connection, and celebration this year started with the best intentions of being marvelous, with the hopes that we could achieve all we set out to do.

The beginning of the year often sees the Parents and Friends Committee (PFC) host a large-scale outdoor event that marks the start of the school year and gives families an opportunity to come together to meet and share experiences that build on the strength of our community.

TARYN PADDLE PFC PRESIDENT

However, with COVID restrictions in place at the start of the year and to prioritise the safety of our school community, with a heavy heart, this event did not go ahead and today we can reflect on that decision being the right one so the safety of all.

Mother’s Day Stall

As restrictions eased, we were able to host the Mother’s Day Stall at school. The excitement from the children as they attended the Stall to pick the perfect gift was a beautiful moment our parent volunteers got to witness.

From the Foundation students seeing the Stall for the first time to the Year 6 students

and their effortless ability to find the ideal gift, we are so grateful to offer this as a staple to the PFC calendar.

Father’s Day Stall

During September, our Father’s Day Stall debuted on site for the first time in a few years due to COVID restrictions easing even further. We also had a change of format which saw the creation of gift packs for children to select from. Our volunteers loved hearing the quips from children around how they thought their dad would love the Gym Pack or even the Movie Pack.

Thank you to our incredible volunteers that supported and offered their time to stalls this year. We are so grateful to you all.

90's Trivia Night

A parent only evening was held on Saturday 3 September that saw the PFC hosting their first event in the Centauri Restaurant. What a truly beautiful space!

Good food and great laughs were shared as we came together to see who knew more about the 90’s in a themed trivia night. Plenty of prizes were handed out throughout to the

evening to best dressed and of course, the winning team.

We would like to thank all the businesses that donated prizes to the raffle. We are so grateful for your generosity.

New-to-You Uniform Shop

The second-hand uniform shop, supported by our fantastic volunteer group, offers the option for parents to purchase preloved school uniform items at a much-reduced price.

The uniform shop first opened when the school started back in 2010 and we are thankful for the love and dedication from Founding parents who took this initiative.

2023 sees a big change coming to the uniform shop with more details soon.

Primary School Halloween Dance

As this goes to print, we are in the lead up to the Primary School Halloween Dance. This evening is all about the

children, having fun with their friends and spending time together that they will remember for years to come.

Many Thanks

Without the dedication of our volunteer group, and many other parents willing to give, these initiatives would not be possible. I would like to thank each and every one of them for their support throughout the year!

As we head towards 2023, we hope to connect our community even more through celebration and time spent together.

The Parents and Friends Committee Leadership Team comprised Taryn Paddle (President), Lisa Willson (Vice President), Nez Goc (Treasurer) and Diana Perre (Secretary).

LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE

Libraries connect students with engaging texts and worlds beyond their own. The Centauri Centre has brought with it vibrant opportunties for students to connect with the written word and their authors.

The role of the Library is to connect students with engaging stories and texts and to encourage a love of reading and literacy. In doing this, we hope every student feels a sense of belonging in the library and ownership over our book collections as they see themselves represented in our book collections both as individuals and readers regardless of ability or interests.

DINA LIRA LRC TECHNICIAN

The connection between library staff and teachers is an important one. We get to know each individual student, their reading ability, and their interests. We encourage students to select books that interest them and encourage diversity in reading as this helps to improve their skills. Peer recommendations are extremely powerful when students selected books to read. It is always encouraging to watch students interact and discuss their next book choice based on a recommendation from other students.

Author and Illustrator visits are an impactful way to connect students to literacy. During Term 2 and through the Melton City Council, author Ellie Marney visited our Year 7 and 8 students. In Term 3, author, illustrator and actor, Felice Arena visited students in Foundation to Year 6. His presentation, dancing, and football match reenactment were enjoyed by all. Lucinda Gifford visited during Term 4. We all loved watching her draw and she taught us how to draw interesting animal characters. Both students

and teachers were completely inspired. Authors create magic when they write a story and experiencing their presentations shows us how we too can use their techniques in our own writing. The visiting authors and illustrators guided us through their creative and research processes and it’s always interesting to see how each person approaches the stories they write or how they develop the illustrations.

The new Centauri Library has provided a much-needed study and collaboration space for our secondary students. The afterschool Homework English and Maths Clubs have been a wonderful way for students to get extra support. The space is always busy with students looking for a quiet place to study or learn in small groups with their teachers. As the book collection continues to grow and our programs develop, the library will increasingly become a vibrant space for all students.

Scholastic Book Club and the Scholastic Book Fair have been generously supported by many in our community this year. This support has given us ‘Scholastic Rewards’ which allows us to purchase many books and resources throughout the year.

We look forward to watching our library spaces grow and evolve with our students, teachers and community in the future.

The new Centauri Library has provided a study and collaboration space for our secondary students.

The Centauri Cafe has been a bustling space for students and staff to connect while sharing a beverage made by secondary students under the guidance and mentorship of caring staff.

DREAMING WITH OUR EYES OPEN

Book Week has the power to connect readers in a unique way and this year, the event brought with it renewed excitement and enthusiasm at Southern Cross Grammar.

On the eve of Book Week, author Felice Arena visited SCG and spoke to students in Foundation to Year 6 about his popular books. Felice is an author, illustrator, and actor, and his amazing talent truly inspired and completely engaged our students. He was enthusiastic, thoughtful, and energetic; exactly what we needed heading into Book Week.

During Book Week, teachers connected with students through books by sharing personally loved stories and activities before school and during recess and lunch. Students eagerly arranged to attend these sessions to connect with teachers, hear them read aloud, and enjoy immersing themselves in literature.

Our Years 5 and 6 teachers prepared an incredible immersive rotation of activities for the Year 5-6 cohort to participate in. Matching the Hogwarts Professor to the SCG Staff Member got students thinking about character traits and Guess the first line of well-known books made us realise how important and powerful first lines are for setting the tone of the story and grabbing our attention. Students engaged with reading and writing in new and different ways.

Another highlight of Book Week saw the Year 7-9 students take the lead and buddy up with our students in the Primary School. Reading

together and creating a poster based on their selected book gave our older students the opportunity to offer guidance to our younger students. The feedback from teachers and students involved has been resoundingly positive with most wanting to do another Buddy Activity again this year.

The buzz continued to build through the week as we prepared for the Dress-Up Parade. This year, more than any other, students spent time thinking about characters in books they are currently reading or that have had a big impact on them over the last few years. We personally loved seeing group costumes and students taking initiative to excitedly work together to coordinate their costumes.The Book Week Parade was an overwhelming success, and the positivity and joy was amazing. Students shared learning from their classroom during Term 3 and showed off costumes to thunderous applause and catchy tunes.

Book Week takes a lot of planning which starts at the beginning of the year. It is a collaboration between teachers and staff across different departments working with many different year levels, and we thank them for their work in bringing Book Week 2022 to life. Every smile and happy student throughout the week was a show of their success in bringing Book Week back to SCG.

Children’s Book Council of Australia’s (CBCA)

Book Week Parade

DINA LIRA LRC TECHNICIAN

CARA SHARPE PRIMARY SCHOOL LITERACY COORDINATOR

A WALK THROUGH THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS

As part of their Applied Learning studies, VCAL students embarked on a guided Aboriginal Heritage Walk led by a First Peoples guide to learn about the rich history and thriving culture of the First Peoples of Australia.

On Thursday, 18 August, the Year 11 and 12 VCAL students made the trip into the City of Melbourne to participate in the Aboriginal Heritage Walk of the Royal Botanic Gardens. The purpose of the excursion was to explore the history of the land on which our capital city stands and our link to this history and heritage, to inform how the students grow and tender the School Garden, located near the Sports Science Centre at SCG.

The Royal Botanic Gardens are a significant cultural site for the local Kulin Nation and our First Peoples guide made a significant impact on all the attendees of the Walk.

On our way to our Walk, we ventured onto the hallowed grounds of the Shrine of Remembrance, to stumble upon the 56th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan and the anniversary of Australia’s withdrawal from the Vietnam War. We were privileged to be a part of the crowd of ordinary people walking amongst our returned soldiers, family and friends as they began their commemoration. We were honoured to stand before the Eternal Flame and walk through the Visitor’s Centre, learning about our history and commemoration of the brave men and women who lost their lives fighting for our freedom.

The Royal Botanic Gardens in our beloved city are magnificent and if you have not been there recently or at all, a significant and meaningful experience and connection awaits you. The Gardens are a significant cultural site for the local Kulin Nation and our First Peoples guide made a significant impact on all the attendees of the Walk.

Our guide explained the significance of the branches that are burned during the Smoking Ceremony; a beautiful collection of amazing native plants that are chosen to acknowledge and welcome the young, the old and those that have gone before us. The Gardens represent the First Peoples connection to country and by participating in the Walk, we not only learned more about our

beautifully, uniquely Australian fauna but how everything the Earth offers us is good and we are charged with the solemn duty of caring, nurturing and only taking what we need and giving back when we can.

The connection our Guide has with his Country was evident, strong and passionate and one could not help be moved.

We not only learned about Aboriginal plant uses, customs and their ongoing connection to Country but if all Australians had an appreciation for their own connection with the land on which we live, grow and learn, then we might all be able to continue to be connected with each other, with our feet firmly planted on the Earth, that sustains us and welcomes us.

The VCAL students will now be more informed about how important it is to connect with the heritage of the area of Caroline Springs. The students will be more conscious of the need to ensure their Garden is sustainable and serves the community by giving back with fresh food, herbs and vegetables and place to visit to get back to the Earth, see and smell the soil and wonder at the change in seasons and the rebirth of life each Spring.

SARAH COOPER

HEAD OF APPLIED LEARNING

ELEVATING THE EVERYDAY

The Elevate Art Exhibition, which focused on elevating everyday items showcased the depth and breadth of creative talent in the Primary School.

Elevated artworks included vibrant self-portraits inspired by Australian artist, Megan Pelham, lanterns drawing on the ancient art of Batik, colourful superhero capes inspired by Dennis Golding's powerful 'The Future is Here' series, and tactile artworks that captured the essence of iconic Victorian architecture through chalk and glue resist technique.

The Elevate Art Exhibition, hosted in the Centauri Centre’s auditorium, saw the space transformed into a maze-like structure for guests to navigate, with different dimensions of sound, visuals, and lighting.

"When designing and building the exhibition space, we looked at students' artworks for golden threads and it all really came to what it means to being human and being alive. Students' artworks touched on the parts of who we are

and the world around us, whether that be self portraits or Melbourne's landscapes or the world around us." Art Teacher, Sheridan Paulka, said.

For Art Teacher Benjamin Hearn, watching students and their families' awe and excitement as they immersed themselves in the exhibition were special moments during its opening night. "Students were so proud of their work and you could see them almost pulling their parents towards their displayed artwork amongst their class' work. The feedback we also recieved from parents about how impressed they were with all the work on display and the Exhibition itself was such a proud moment."

Melbourne’s skyline put on a beautiful display for our Year 12 students as they cruised down the Yarra River for their Year 12 Formal on Wednesday 7 September 2022.

���� CAMPS

YEAR 5 CAMP: THE SUMMIT

At the end of Term 3, the Year 5 cohort attended a three-day camp at The Summit in Trafalgar, Gippsland. After our time in lockdown we were excited to be going on camp.

Our camp was all about developing our leadership and teamwork skills and building confidence. On arrival, we were introduced to The Summit’s Five Keys: make lots of mistakes, play all in, have fun, don’t go home wondering ‘what if...?’ and get comfortable being uncomfortable. We also had a goal setting method for when we did activities: set a target, then stretch it, and finally set ‘the super stretch’. This helped us to get out of our comfort zone and make us realise what we really can achieve.

Our team activities were amazing and highlights included the Snowy

River challenge, Monster Course (mud run), and high wire. The Snowy River challenge required a lot of teamwork and trust. One of the hardest obstacles was getting a team of twelve over a two metre high wooden wall, but with teamwork and perseverance we achieved success. The final challenge was the wombat hole. You had to go through a tunnel that narrowed as you went and was pitch black. Halfway through there was a pond to crawl through. Teamwork strategies and a lot of positive talk saw us get our entire team through. We also tackled the seven metre highwire, which we reached by climbing a tree. We then

walked along the wire to high-five our partner coming from the opposite direction and then dropped backwards to go down.

Our star activity was the Monster Course. It involved many tasks, a lot of running and mud. In the first challenge, we had to fill up a bucket full of holes with water from the lake. It got us drenched. Then we had to grab two tyres and link up as a team and run on to the next activity. Each challenge stretched us and needed great communication.

Teamwork was key as we all had to get around the huge course together –

there was a lot of shouting, screaming and laughing. Not only were we stretched to complete the course, we were pushed to do it again, learning from the first run. Our final lap ended with the famous mud run. We were exhausted, dirty but extraordinarily happy.

At the end of camp, one person from each group was elected for exemplifying the Five Keys. The reward was a ride in an army tank. We climbed onto its huge wheels and lowered ourselves down the hatch. We could only hear the roaring rumble of the engine as we drove up and over a car. It was the experience

of a lifetime and a perfect way to end camp.

As we left for home we were all tired, but knew that each one of us had stepped up to lead, exceed goals and support one another. We are grateful for the experience and opportunity to grow in confidence, as leaders and team players. Thank you to everyone involved in creating this wonderful experience.

MAYLA IBRAHIM

BASHA LINA A.

SHANNELI BANDARA JADEN ACUNA

YEAR 10 GREAT BARRIER REEF TOUR

Our school trip to the Great Barrier Reef brought us face-to-face with some of the most breathtaking views of the Reef, its vibrant wildlife, and coral as we explored all the treasures and wonders it had to offer.

We began our journey to the pristine Whitsundays by meeting at Melbourne Airport in the early morning. As a group we had a number of memorable moments and highlights from our trip to the Whitsundays National Park and the Great Barrier Reef.

In particular, on day seven, we took a cruise from Airlie Beach to the Outer Reef Pontoon which was just off the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Here, we were able to experience breathtaking views of the Reef and explore all the treasures and wonders that the Great Barrier Reef has to offer. On arrival at the pontoon, we had the perfect view of the Reef and were able to go to the underwater deck and the submarine to look at tropical fish. Certain students had the opportunity to use the GoPro equipment to capture amazing pictures of the Reef while snorkelling. The boat

ride back was most exciting as we saw the stunning sunset over the water and the surrounding islands. This camp trip was also an opportunity to connect with our peers. Having dedicated time put aside to develop relationships with our teachers and fellow classmates was truly a valuable experience, which helped to build a sense of community. Since we hadn’t been able to attend camp since 2019, this was great.

On day nine of our journey through the Great Barrier Reef tour, we were lucky enough to see arguably the best beach the world has to offer, Whitehaven Beach. The group travelled on a small speedboat, offering a much bumpier, faster ride away from the coast of Airlie Beach. As we arrived at the adjacent beach of Whitehaven, we were all told that a hike was needed to experience the best sightseeing opportunities

possible, but of course, a little effort would make sense to see this beach! After reaching the lookout spots and taking in the breathtaking views, we decided to head down to the beach itself, being able to experience the crystal, clear waters, and soft, whiteshaded sands as well as the small stingrays who visited us in the shallows. Snorkelling around the coats was next on the list. The crew at Ocean Rafting were able to take us to their best snorkelling spots, where vibrant fish and coral life still thrived after Cyclone Debbie.

I (Brian Kim) as well as our group gained many new skills through this tour experience. However, I can highlight the skills I honed and improved on through my experience, being my independence, was the most notable. Being away from my family and entering a school trip

after a while—due to the Covid period— allowed me to test my responsibility in little tasks such as taking care of my personal belongings to being time conscious when meeting back with the group at a certain time.

When mentioning standout moments, the Cruise Whitsundays was an experience not to forget. Being able to see the Great Barrier Reef was a privilege and being able to snorkel and swim through the millions of corals and fish was an unforgettable feeling that I will take with me forever.

Another standout day to be highlighted on behalf of the entire Great Barrier Reef camp community was day four where we embarked on a sailing adventure across the Reef. The day started bright and early, with breakfast at 6:30am. After a quick transport to the dock, the group were introduced to the absolute behemoth of a boat in which we were going to spend the rest of the day aboard. The group got to know our three boat instructors who inducted us into the workings of the boat, and shared many stories of things they had seen while at sea.

After an hour or two of steady sailing, the group arrived at our first location: Langford Island. We snorkelled around the coast and saw many signs of vibrant wildlife, including fluorescent coral and exotic fish which were not featured anywhere else in Australia.

Following the gruelling snorkel, the crew reboarded the boat and we set off on another sail to our second location: Black Island. As we were all tired, most people were not keen on snorkeling a second time, so the alternative was—for the few brave enough—a barefoot hike to the top of the island over hot sand and gravel. The trek was well worth it, as at the top was a stunning view of the ocean and surrounding Whitsunday Islands.

The walk back down from the hike truly took a toll on our energy levels, so as soon as we boarded the ship for the final time, the group completely crashed and decided to just listen to some relaxing music to highlight the journey back. As the boat trip came to a close, the energy levels of the group were revitalized resulting in a small dance party to some more upbeat tunes.

With the boat docking at its starting destination, the group was truly completed with the day. On behalf of all of the attending Year 10 students, we would like to thank the time and effort put into this tour by Mr Dodd, Ms Filonenko, Ms Jain, and Mr Hearn. This trip will truly hold a memorable place in our journey at Southern Cross Grammar.

JAKE WILLIAMS BRIAN KIM

ALANNA MEILAK

YEAR 10-11 NEW ZEALAND TOUR

Having the opportunity to tour New Zealand's North Islands was an experience we will never forget, with highlights including exploring a lost world and the country's rich landscapes and sights.

We started our journey to New Zealand with a 4:00am start!

Upon our arrival in New Zealand we met our bus driver, Rob, at the airport who travelled everywhere with us until we departed for the Bay of Islands. Rob was kind enough to let us go for lunch and get our McDonalds—which we had trouble finding previously—and that made us very happy and energetic for the three-hour drive to our hotel, which was very fun because we were all doing karaoke. When we got to our hotel, we all went straight to dinner because of all the travelling we had completed. Our rooms were all set up with our partners

and we were all excited for the events waiting for us.

On Day 2 of our New Zealand tour, we were privileged to explore the country’s rich Māori culture. Our trip was filled with curiosity and the smell of rotten eggs as we travelled across the traditional, sulphur scented geothermic valley of the Wāhiao tribe’s land. We became immersed in the history of their culture, delving deep into the history of significant tribal ancestors, and their experiences with the land we stood upon. We trekked through the steamy trail, witnessing the famous Rotoura geysers blast through

the ground, heating up the lakes of temperatures already over 100° Celsius!

Day 3 of our New Zealand tour included exhilarating activities such as the Spirit Mountain 4x4 Buggy tour and the Luge rides. We were given the opportunity to experience the native forests and beautiful scenery on the buggy tour whilst encountering captivating wildlife. After the buggy tour, we had lunch and then went to the Gondola rides where we could see Rotorua from a high altitude. The view was breathtaking. Once we reached the top, we rode the luges, sitting on mini carts and riding them down the track in the pouring rain

which was honestly the biggest highlight of the trip.

Our Lost World Tour followed the original footsteps of early explorers who were surveying the land to develop the local railway networks for the north island of New Zealand.

We went on a brief hike through the dense New Zealand bushland until we reached the platform where we were to begin our descent. The cave floor was over 100 meters below the surface and filled with flora and fauna which only existed below the surface.

As we began our descent, any nerves, or concerns about the daunting task of abseiling down the caves entrance were quickly overshadowed by excitement and awe at the caves’ unique and beautiful ecosystem. Once we reached the bottom of the cave after 20 minutes of descent, we hiked the treacherous terrain filled with fast flowing rivers,

crevasses, rocks, and boulders (all while sneaking in a cheeky picture or two) until we reached the glow worms. Overall, I’m sure this activity was the highlight of the trip for most of us!

On behalf of the Year 11 and 10 students who were given the amazing opportunity to explore New Zealand’s cultural and physical beauty, this trip could not have been possible without the significant effort and time put in by Mr Dodd and his staff, Mr Hedditch and the teachers who accompanied us. This will definitely be a trip we never forget!

VANSHITA VENUGOPAL SIENNA SLEMAN

ALEESHA DOULL

O�

OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY

OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF

FOUNDATION: CLASS OF 2034

YEAR 1: CLASS OF 2033

YEAR 2: CLASS OF 2032

YEAR 3: CLASS OF 2031

YEAR 4: CLASS OF 2030

YEAR 5: CLASS OF 2029

YEAR 6: CLASS OF 2028

YEAR 7: CLASS OF 2027

YEAR 8: CLASS OF 2026

YEAR 9: CLASS OF 2025

YEAR 11: CLASS OF 2023

Jeremy Ramos

Pallavi Reddy

Dakota Rees Farrugia

Meiba Sietchiping

Prabpreet Singh Shokar

Rajveer Singh

Victoria Skrekovski

Mackenzie Sykes

Brandon Tasevski

Ethan Thai

Jason Tran

Maxim Trofimov

Kiani Ulloa

Juan Francisco Urgel

Elysia Veljanovski

Ethan Veljanovski

Aimee Vukoja

Emily Williams

Zara Woollard

SCG Board

Nate Fosnaugh

Nick Pilovski

Leonie Abbott

John Chambers

Frank Filippone

Scott Radburn

Staff

Angie Atal Carreon

Amer Ibrahim Basha

Anthony Clark

Andrea Clarry

Abigael Montoro

Adrian Perger

Alfio Privitera

Ayse Unal

Amy van Buuren

Ashlee Walsh

Bridgitte Arancibia

Beatrice D'Souza

Benjamin Hearn

Bronwyn Jessup

Bronwyn Pokorzynski

Clare David

Cynthia Drossinis

Christopher Gauci

Carmel Kelly

Chris Mitchell

Caitlin Qin

Chrissy Schuler

Cara Sharpe

Cindy Thlimenos

Danielle Andrews

Dean Galea

Dina Lira

Damien Morrison

Dalal Naciri

Deepti Rojiwadiya

David Wildsmith

Emily Atkin

Elin Lin

Emmett Smith

Genevieve Sathiaseelan

Helen Vaughan

Jessica Anderton

Juliarna Clark

James Cutting

Jay Eugenio

Jacqui Filonenko

Judith Gowdy

Joseph Hedditch

Jonathan Lake

James Mott

Jacinta Murrihy

James Pane

Jade Panozzo

Jodie Potter

Jack Tan

Jennifer Turner

Jol Watson

John Yong

Katie Barrett

Kelly Beyer

Kaylie Lee

Karrina Lockman

Katelyn Morton

Kerry Trounson

Lydia Brkic

Lauren Carpio

Lauren Hedditch

Louis Martin

Liam Ogden

Laura Rovetto

Lauren Smith

Lynn Townley

Maddison Attard

Melissa Blacklock

Matt Dodd

Maria Fiteni

Mansi Jain

Michael Pell

Mark Sommers

Marite Ulloa

Megan Unthank

Marina Zaky

Nissa Caldwell

Nikala Kundevski

Nicole Saunders

Natasha Zahariadis

Pawel Cholewa

Paula Clark

Prue Petsinis

Paul Staniscia

Ravinesh Chandra

Robert Graham

Rebekah Nielsen

Samantha Abela

Shellie Cooper

Sheridan Coverdale

Suzanne Helou

Sarah Cooper

Suzan Kibar

Steven Lascelles

Subagini Nakuladeva

Sheridan Paulka

Shannen Spiteri

Sania Zahra

Tracey Blacka

Tosan Foss

Trevor McQuade

Taylor Moss

Tegan Pualic

Toly Sawenko

Tanya Volarevic Trish Vu

Vivien Lee

Vicky Temuskos

Will Wordsworth

Yaneska Tiamiyu

AUTOGRAPHS