Introducing the Little Queenslea Drive Program – Year 4
Last week was a fabulous week for athletics for both Prep and Senior School students. The Prep School boys participated in the JPSSA Carnival on Thursday and the Senior School boys in the PSA Inters Athletics Carnival the following day. All participating students performed very well with eight new records being set by Senior School students and the Prep School finishing fourth was an outstanding result.
On Sunday our Year 7 cohort attended a Study Skills workshop on campus. This was the second session held and attracted more than 150 parents and boys. During this introduction to the life skill of studying, the group discussed how the brain works regarding memory and learning, how to enhance short and long term memory, strategies for summarising notes and how to order files, lockers, desks and the home work area. This is an invaluable workshop and we will be inviting Year 6 families to participate in Term 4, as we continue to prepare the boys for Senior School.
Whether it was due to Covid-19, the warm sunny weather, our reputation for ‘all-things’ being outstanding in the Prep School, last Friday’s Grandparents’ and Grandfriends’ Day was a huge success. The number of guests was greater than any other year and all of the staff and boys had a really fabulous time showing their family members all of their wonderful work.
On Tuesday morning we welcomed our Year 12 mothers on campus to enjoy a Chapel service and morning tea with their sons in recognition of their special relationship. Reverend Nicholas Russell led a poignant service together with Wendy and Harry Dowling being interviewed on their journey through CCGS as a mum and son and Anita Tandon contributing with a Bible reading. This is only the second time we have run this event and we look forward to continuing this tradition in the coming years.
The introduction of our Year 9 rites of passage Program, On Queenslea Drive, has been a wonderful addition to the Christ Church offering, and early in Term 4 I will be introducing all current Year 3 families to a new program, Little Queenslea Drive or LQD. This experience for our Year 4 boys will commence in 2021 and has been designed age and stage with the rites of passage framework in mind. It will increase boys skills, responsibilities, feelings of competence and help them to better connect with their peers. I look forward to sharing more information with you in Term 4.
Term 3 continues to be an exciting and busy term with many events. We have Year 9 Moyes on OQD this week and Year 9 Wolsey at Kooringal. Many Year 11s are in Marble Bar for their Service in Action trip and our Year 12s have commenced their trial examinations. Year 12 boys and their mothers celebrated a special moment this week at the Year 12 Mother/Son Chapel event, it was a great celebration of the important bond between son and mother/significant female.
As an initiative through the Student Representative Council, we will be holding a “Crazy Sock Day” during Week 1, Thursday, 15 October. We are asking all students and staff in the Senior School to wear their loudest, craziest socks to promote awareness of Mental Health and to continue our initiatives around student and staff health and wellbeing.
I thank the students for participating in the student leadership voting over the last week, with prefect voting now concluded, we will work towards announcing the 2021 student leaders early next term.
Good luck to our Year 12 cohort who start Trial Exams today, or continue their work experience placements.
Important dates
Year 12 Trial Exams commence – Thursday 17 September
Last Day Term 3 – Friday 25 September
First Day Term 4 – Tuesday 13 October
Simon Angus
Deputy Principal
Head of Senior School
I would like to congratulate all boys and staff who took part in the Open Night and Art Exhibition last week. There was a wonderful turnout and the standard of music and art was reflective of the hard work of both the boys and teachers. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge Ms Ebony Yapp, Mrs Claire Donald, Mrs Paula Boxall and both the art and music departments for all their support and guidance, for what was an incredible evening.
This week saw the commencement of the Year 6 Alternative Canberra Experience (ACE), which kicked off with a flyover of our nation’s capital. The Hon. Dr Carmen Lawrence was a guest speaker and spoke to all Year 6 boys about systems of government, democracy in Australia and other countries, Australia’s parliamentary system and the role of governments at both state and federal levels. Boys were able to ask our past Premier some wide-ranging questions. The boys experienced an incursion from the Electoral Education Centre, visited Scitech and participated in a walking art tour of Northbridge. We certainly hope that all Year 6 boys find these experiences rewarding.
The Preparatory School House Shout will take place next Thursday (24 September) afternoon in the Chapel commencing at 1.30pm. All families are invited to see the four Houses sing their hearts out to win points for the Giles Shield. Next week many of our Years 5 and 6 boys will be performing ‘Rock Bottom’ at the Drama Centre. Under the direction of Mr Dawson, the boys have been rehearsing each week and are looking forward to performing to the Preparatory School community.
As this is the final CCGS World newsletter for Term 3, I would like to thank you again for all your support and continued interest in your son’s education throughout the term. I look forward to seeing you in Term 4. A reminder Term Four commences Tuesday 13 October 2020.
