16 minute read
GROWING IN THE WILDERNESS
WATCH OUR YEAR 7S IN ACTION AT THE YEAR 12 INDUCTION
YEAR 7S RISE TO THE CHALLENGE
“When the email came out for Year 7s to cook at the [Year 12 Induction], I straight away put my hand up to volunteer,” Naomi Matta said when speaking of her decision to cook and cater for the event. As well as creating the night’s menu with her peers and the food studies team, Naomi also cooked in the Centauri Centre’s commercial kitchen preparing fries and adding finishing touches to menu items before they were served to the 250 guests in the resturant. The Year 12 Induction marked the first event hosted and catered for in our new commercial kitchen. “The commercial kitchen is an amazing venue that fosters opportunities to think big, and catering for the Year 12 Induction has been such as significant moment for the food studies team and students,” Food Studies teacher, Steven Lascelles, said. “The Induction marked the first time we used some of the high-end equipment such as the Combi oven for the first time and put the kitchen through its paces, which it passed with flying colours." The Year 7s were also mentored by older students, Zara Joachimiak and Arber Bregu, who were keen to share their hospitality skills and knowledge. Zara’s passion for volunteering and her work in the Centauri Cafe drew her to joining the event’s cooking team. Prior to the event, she and Arber assisted the food studies team with prepping for the night. During the event she took beverage orders at the Year 12 Cafe and cooked in the commercial kitchen. “Being able to work in such an amazing kitchen, alongside the Year 7s and staff was such a privilege,” Zara said. “The Year 7s were engaged throughout the entire process and were always happy to assist and try something new. I was also able to impart my knowledge of various baking, prepping, and cooking techniques to them as we worked together in the kitchen.” Our Year 7 students’ hospitality speaks to the powerful and lasting relationships we enjoy at Southern Cross Grammar; more so our Buddy Program which sees our Foundation students mentored and cared for by our Year 5 students. This partnership eventually matures over time and reaches its full cycle when the once dependent Foundation students serve their now Year 12 mentors at significant milestones in their life including the Year 12 Induction and Valedictory Breakfast. When speaking about students’ hospitality Steven said, “Our students have a hospitality where they seek out opportunities to give back to their community while gaining valuable experience and skills that they can take with them through life. "I am proud of the Year 7 students, Arber, Zara, Ms. Panozzo, Ms Moss, and Ms Goudy for how they came together as a team, used initiative to provide a professional service." For Naomi, and indeed her peers, having been mentored by the Class of 2022 as young students, being part of their Year 12 Induction has been one they will never forget. “I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to cook for the Year 12s, staff and families in the first major event in the Centauri Centre, and also be part of their Induction. "As the youngest high school students, it felt nice to see and be part of supporting our oldest students in the high school.”
The Year 12 Induction was made all the richer by Year 7 students and their mentors, who worked with the Food Studies team to cook and cater for the event.
Year 12 students cook in the commercial kitchen in the last week of term after our Food Studies team generously the space to students during their wellbeing sessions. Nutrition is such an important part of health and wellbeing, and becomes even more vital as students navigate their final year of secondary school and prepare for the next stage of their lives beyond SCG.
LIGHT THE LIGHTS
With state-of-the art spaces including a 400-seat auditorium boasting sophisticated technologies to support sound, visuals, and lighting, and a performing arts centre for students to rehearse, learn, and develop their skills in music production and theatre, the Centauri Centre has elevated our school’s ambition for excellence in music and performing arts.
Head of Music, Rob Graham, credits this increased ambition in music and the performing arts to the Centauri Centre’s design and the dynamic opportunities it provides for the next generation of performers, musicians, and theatre professionals. “The performance spaces within the Centauri Centre have been designed with the professional performer in mind with the flexibility to use spaces for rehearsals, to present live performances or to create music recordings,” he said. From Year 7 Creative Industries students developing their personal projects in areas such as project mapping, music performance, and podcast creation; to sound production students operating professional audio equipment to refine their audio production and recording skills; and students, including the Matilda the Musical creative team, designing professional backdrops to be projected in the auditorium for productions and concerts, the creative vibrancy in the Centre never stops. The music community marked a significant milestone with the arrival of the school’s first Grand Piano, which stands proudly in our auditorium. When speaking of the significance of the Grand Piano for our community, Rob said, "The Grand Piano marks a significant chapter in our music program, and our young pianists have thoroughly enjoyed performing and honing their skills on such an advanced instrument." Having waited two years to step foot into the Centauri Centre, Term 2 has been a whirlwind of music events and rehearsals as staff and students make use of every opportunity for success. As such our community have enjoyed a number of events including the Music Information Evening which saw performances by our Year 5 Band, featuring brass and woodwind, and the Year 2 Strings students; and Music Soirées, held over three nights, featuring performances from our Voice, Brass and Woodwind, and Strings students. “We have been overjoyed to welcome our community into the Centauri Centre for performance nights,” Rob said. “Their awe and excitement, upon entering the building and experiencing the significant spaces including our auditorium has been a delight to see. Students’ enjoyment of the Centre shows in their performance and the events we have held this term have been a resounding success.” In the auditorium after school, another type of rehearsals take place as 4 August approaches: preparations for Matilda the Musical. Having begun their rehearsals in the auditorium in early Term 2, the cast have been making themselves comfortable on our newest stage. "Rehearsing in the auditorium has made the Production very real for students, having gone from rehearsing in smaller spaces while waiting for the auditorium to be completed," Producer, Maddison Attard, said. "So even looking at the seats and knowing it will be filled for the production, and discussing the location of the green rooms and where students will have their makeup done and costume change has built the excitement for them too."
Top to Bottom A Primary School student performs in the auditorium during the Primary Lunchtime concert. Students rehearse in the auditorium as Matilda the Musical prepares to hit the Southern Cross Grammar stage.
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE YEAR 4 CAMP
When describing the experience of swinging through the sky on a giant swing, Ava Tkatchyk says, “All my friends pulled me up so high I could see over the trees. Then I pulled a string and swung back so fast I could hear the wind whistling in my ears.” The Year 4 camp is a highlight in the Year 4 calendar and one that sees students engage in a number of team building initiatives and other camp activities while experiencing the natural coastal environment. For the Class of 2030 their camping experience was all the more significant as it marked their first off-site camp. To prepare students for the camp, Year 4 teachers Nissa Caldwell and Cindy Thlimenos had regular discussions with students on what to expect. This included showing them photographs of their camping location and encouraging camp routines such as packing their bags. “With this year’s camp being students’ first out-of-school camp, we spent a lot of time talking about all the exciting things they could look forward to,” Nissa and Cindy said. “This included sharing pictures and footage explaining what their cabins would look like as well as activities that were on offer. We also encouraged students to pack their own bags so they knew where everything was and offered lots of tips before heading off to camp.” Watching students immerse themselves in the many opportunities their camp had to offer was a personal highlight for Head of Primary, Mrs Prue Petsinis, who spent time with students during the camp. “Witnessing our students loading, aiming and shooting an arrow in archery; hand mixing their own damper then cooking it over a camp fire; and learning new skills and embracing the various challenges offered during the camp was wonderful to see,” she said. The Year 4 Camp was Jacine Randhawa’s first camp experience and she enjoyed learning new camp routines and participating in the camp’s activities. “I loved doing all the activities on camp with the kind YMCA staff,” she said. “It was so exciting and fun, especially the beach activities. I also had lots of fun settling into my bunk and putting my sheets and blankets on, and laughing with my friends as we set up our cabin.” Our students form life-long memories during camp and for Ava, partaking in the rich experiences at Anglesea is one she will never forget. “Year 4 Camp was my first ever camp and I had the most fun I have ever had in my life. I won’t ever forget it.”
Students made bush damper during their camp. Originally made from the flour of crushed spinifex seeds, bush damper has been a diet staple for thousands of years.
Our 2022 Year 6 Portfolio Leaders stand with Mrs Prue Petsinis outside the Centauri Centre.
PRIMARY LEADING THE WAY
In the first event of its kind held in the Centauri Centre’s auditorium, our Year 6 students, the Class of 2028, were formally acknowledged and celebrated as leaders at the Year 6 Leadership Assembly. The Class of 2028 were quick to establish their place as leaders in the Primary School community this year, hosting Harmony Week activities and initiatives in Term 1 to bring everyone together. At the Leadership Assembly, Head of Primary, Mrs Prue Petsinis spoke of her pride in the cohort’s leadership to date, saying, “I have been incredibly impressed by the way you involve yourself in the activities we hold in the Primary School. "Your Harmony Week activities saw you model kindness, respect, generosity, and a willingness to step up in your role as Primary Leaders. “You have truly shown that you are role models for our Foundation to Year 5 students.” During the assembly students were presented with their Year 6 Badge and took a student pledge led by School Captains, Antonio Magro and Pallavi Reddy, in their first official role as Captains. In ending the Assembly, Mrs Petsinis gave a call to the Class of 2028 to take the opportunities offered to them and also create their own. “SCG has much to offer and I encourage you to take up opportunities, but to also create your own opportunities.”
The Year 9 Outdoor Education Camp at Wilsons Promontory National Park set hearts pumping as students navigated challenging weather conditions including wild gusts and rain as they hiked 13-16 kilometre trails, kayaked Tidal River, and scaled the granite peaks of Mount Bishop and Mount Oberon.
When describing the Year 9 Outdoor Education camp program, Head of Health and Physical Education, Liam Ogden, describes it as one which encourages students to “have a greater appreciation of the natural environment.” This appreciation of the natural environment Wilsons Promontory provides which includes coastal environments, lush rainforests, and dry forests was taken to another level as students found themselves hiking, kayaking and scaling peaks in challenging weather for the first time. Preparation for the outdoor education camp began with students learning about the Australian environment and wilderness first aid, which included completing an assessment to show their competency in treating ailments such as snake bites and rolled ankles. To physically prepare for camp students trained once a week in the Sports Science Centre with a focus on strength and conditioning to prepare themselves for carrying heavy packs—which ranged between 15-20 kilograms —before transitioning to practical elements such as setting up tents and cooking with trangia cookers. These dynamic skills served them well as they navigated and adapted to the challenging weather that met them at Wilson’s Promontory and remained for the duration of the three day camp. This included adapting their original sea kayaking activity, originally placed for the Walkerville Bay, to a kayak across Tidal River. “During the first day of camp students chose an activity they would like to complete, and had chosen sea kayaking which was to take place at the Walkerville Bay. "However due to windy weather, we found ourselves adapting the activity to take place on Tidal River. Students had fun kayaking up and down the river, and learnt new practical skills, as they hadn’t done something like that before,” Liam said. Highlights from the camp also included close encounters with wildlife such as wombats, possums, and native birds. In speaking of students’ resilience and zeal during the camp, Liam said, “While the weather made the camp much more challenging than previous years, students didn’t let the circumstances dampen their spirits as they worked together and applied their practical skills to make the camp a memorable one of experiencing the iconic landscapes and diverse environments Wilsons Prom had to offer.”
One of the highlights of the camp was hiking 13-16 kilometre trails including the iconic Lilly Pilly Gully Circuit Walk.
On their first day of camp students kayaked Tidal River, having adapted their previously planned sea kayaking session.
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS SHINE
Students’ creativity and innovation were at the forefront of Design Week as they researched, brainstormed, and designed innovative solutions to real-world issues with Crazy Ideas College. From crafting solutions to timely and important issues such as climate change, pollution, and accessibility, students enjoyed showcasing their projects and ideas, as well as passion projects and broader learning in the Arts and STEM, to families at the Exhibition of Learning evening. Parents’ support and genuine curiosity for students’ projects were a highlight, as well as the productive discussions they had with students about how we can all work together to build brighter futures for all.
WATCH A RECAP OF DESIGN WEEK
During the Exhibition of Learning evening, parents interacted with students' projects and had productive discussions on the issues facing our world and how can all work together to build brighter futures for all.
The Exibition of Learning evening also showcased work completed as part of our Personal Project program, Theatre and Technical elective (which included performances from our Year 8 students). and Select Entry STEM and Music Programs.
^ Right to Left Mr Inge plants the Inge tree on our campus during the school's official opening on 18 July 2011 Upon news of his passing, students paid their respects by placing flowers under the tree.
VALE, MR ZIG INGE AM
On behalf of the SCG Community we pass our condolences to the Inge family during this sad time at the passing of Mr Zig Inge AM.
We take this moment to acknowledge and celebrate a life well-lived and acknowledge Mr Inge's significant impact in so many aspects of our State, and for Southern Cross Grammar as a significant supporter of our school. Southern Cross Grammar stands proudly on the Inge campus in honour of Mr Inge. His proud legacy of philanthropy and innovation will remain a significant influence for many generations to come. Vale, Mr Zig Inge AM.
Communities grow strong when people plant trees that they’ll never enjoy the shade of.
Planted in 2011 by Mr Zig Inge AM, at the opening of SCG, the Inge tree has grown strong in tandem with our school. His support for the foundation of SCG, his life well lived, and his kindness will forever be a valuable example for the SCG community to follow for generations to come.
