As we come to the end of this week, we’ll reach the point where 60% of our year has passed, and this is roughly where we’re at in terms of the school year as well. We can all feel we’re beyond the half-way point, but the end is still a long way off. It’s easy to think that there’s a window of time to ease off a bit, an opportunity to sit back and save some energy for a sprint towards the finish line, be it an exam block, a finals round, or a gala performance. I’d like to challenge this…
What is the meaning of justice? Justice is something that one may consider as a principal value of our society. When justice fails to meet our or the community’s expectations, the principle of justice moves to the forefront of public conversation, with news feeds and social commentary replete with opinion on whether or not justice has prevailed. One need only glimpse the comments on any given article concerning justice to see that our "sense" of justice plays a significant role in how we engage…
During the term break my beloved dog, Barkley, passed away. He was certainly a mature gent with a full white muzzle and greying paws but his passing was unexpected and very sad. Barkley was so much more than a dog: he was the best counsellor, personal trainer, conversation starter and friend that I could have ever asked for. He was the first dog that I purchased and owned from a puppy in my adult years. My family had dogs all through my childhood, but he was mine and my responsibility. Many…
Feedback is an essential part of the learning process. In fact, feedback is one of the most powerful tools that teachers can use to enhance learning, as it can greatly improve student development and teaching quality. For children and adults alike, feedback provides us with the information, guidance and support we need to grow and advance. However, critical and constructive feedback is not always the easiest thing for us to hear or to be presented with. In fact, it can at times be quite…
Welcome back to you all, and especially to our new families who have joined us this week. It is lovely to have you and your children with us. As I write this I want to mention the early success of our team of students who have been competing in the Snow Australia Interschools competition at Perisher this week. Our girls have achieved some excellent results in the early part of the competition, including a significant number of medals already. Congratulations to all our students who are…
I read a wonderful book over the holidays: Five Ways of Being by Jane Danvers, Heather De Blasio and Gavin Grift. Written by three passionate educational leadership experts, the book is intended for middle and senior school leaders to inspire them to continue with their own learning journeys for school improvement and personal and professional growth. As I was reading, I couldn’t help but notice how applicable this book is for everyone in our community, because each of us is, in some capacity…
Winter has kicked off with a bang, with CGGS students earning fantastic results in skiing competitions. At the Redlands Cup in Thredbo, Mia Brady (Y3), Jorja Campbell (Y4) and Chloe Tan (Y4) won the team event in the Div.5 Female Alpine, with Jorja also placing first in the individual event. Allegra Taubenschlag (Y7) placed seventh in Div.3 and Siri Taubenschlag (Y6) 11th in Div.4. Well done! The Indoor Cricket National Championships also saw stellar performances from Catherine Diedricks (Y8),…
With the school holidays upon us and some free time on the table for our students, it can be a time when the anxiety levels of parents rise as they worry about how to entertain their children. In our uber-connected world where technology reigns supreme and children are constantly stimulated by screens and online content, it is important for them to also have time to do nothing. They might refer to this as being bored, but adults can reframe it to be a time of creativity and restoration. When we…
It’s hard to believe that Semester One has passed. Looking back and reflecting on the past two terms, it’s wonderful that our ELC and Junior School students have this year safely enjoyed a successful period of uninterrupted learning and achievement, free from remote offerings and online classes. Throughout next week parents will receive semester reports. These reports are a record of learning that celebrates each student’s growth and development thus far. More importantly, they provide a rich…