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• Experiences beyond the classroom
• Broome visit
• Pilgrimage of Joy

This week, students have embarked on two significant experiences in their Christ Church journey. Our Year 6 students have travelled to Canberra for their annual tour of the nation’s capital, while Year 8 students have departed for the South West to take part in the Cape to Cape experience alongside peers from St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls. The Canberra Tour focuses on connecting students with the fundamental pillars of Australia’s history, democracy and culture. Highlights of the program include visits to Government House, the Australian War Memorial, the Australian Institute of Sport, the National Portrait Gallery and Questacon, among others. All Year 6 students participate in this experience, which is timed to align with their classroom learning. By taking their studies beyond the classroom, students gain invaluable, firsthand insight into the people, places and ideas that shape our nation.

The Year 8 Cape to Cape experience comes at a pivotal stage in each student’s development, when they are ready to embrace new challenges in an outdoor education setting. Students are placed outside their comfort zones and grouped with peers from both schools, fostering new connections and perspectives. This program precedes the Year 9 On Queenslea Drive Program and forms part of a broader coming-of-age journey, equipping students with essential health and wellbeing skills as they transition towards adulthood. Throughout the Cape to Cape experience, students develop a strong sense of cooperation, resilience and perseverance. By stepping away from their everyday routines, they are encouraged to reflect, adapt and grow. The result is a deeper understanding of themselves and a greater appreciation of what they are capable of achieving, with the impact of the experience continuing well beyond their return home.

Next weekend, our Head Swimming Coach, Will Greenwood, will lead a squad of Christ Church swimmers to Broome to host a clinic for the local swimming community. This initiative offers our students a wonderful opportunity to develop their coaching skills while working alongside their peers from the region. We are also pleased to be hosting a sundowner in collaboration with our friends over the fence at Methodist Ladies’ College. We look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces, if you or someone you know would like to join us, please click here.

Last night, we were honoured to welcome the Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Perth, the Right Reverend Hans Christiansen, to campus as the penultimate stop on his Pilgrimage of Joy. Following a special community service in the Chapel last night, the Bishop was our guest at this morning’s Senior School Assembly. As students farewelled him this morning, he continued his journey toward St George’s Cathedral in the Perth CBD and was joined by some of our Year 3 and 4 students for the start of the walk. Bishop Hans’s visit serves as a meaningful reminder of the enduring connection between our school and the Anglican Diocese.

Alan Jones
Principal

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• Year 8 Cape to Cave
• National Boarding Week
• Expert guest speakers

This week saw the first group of students take part in the Year 8 Cape to Cave program in the Margaret River region. Program 2 departs on Sunday with the final program taking place the next week. Whilst away, the students are in involved in a variety of activities including expedition bushwalking, environmental and indigenous awareness, caving, and abseiling.

Next week is National Boarding Week and our Boarding Community is looking forward to hosting a range of events throughout the week with tutorial group tours through the boarding house, a Mechanical Bull ride, a sausage sizzle to raise funds for RFDS and a staff vs boarders’ basketball and soccer game to name just a few. Students should keep an eye on Nexus news for when things are on. I welcome our community to reach out to our Director of Boarding, Todd Harnwell, should they have friends or family who wish to consider their son joining our residential community. Alternatively, it is always wonderful for our boarding boys to spend some time with day boys out on weekends if this is an option.

The Centre for Health and Wellbeing hosts a range of leading presenters throughout the year, providing students and parents with access to current, evidence-informed conversations around the challenges and opportunities facing young people today. These presentations form an important part of the School’s commitment to remaining proactive and contemporary in supporting the wellbeing, development, and education of our community.

On Monday evening, parents are invited to attend a presentation by Mike Dyson titled Better Conversations with Young Men. This session will explore practical strategies for strengthening communication, connection, and understanding with boys as they navigate the transition from adolescence into young adulthood. The presentation will be highly valuable for parents seeking to better support their son through the increasingly important middle and senior school years. To register your attendance, please click here.

It has been pleasing to see the students looking sharp when arriving on to campus in the morning and wearing their blazers until the end of Period 2. A reminder to please ensure that all uniform items especially their blazers are named.

Upcoming Senior School Events

• PSA Sport v Wesley – Friday 8 and Saturday 9 May
• CCGS / St Hilda’s Year 8 Cape to Cave Program 2: Sunday 10 to Thursday 14 May
• Year 9 Parent Teacher Student Interviews (online) – Monday 11 May
• Mike Dyson – Better Conversations with Young Men Presentation – Monday 11 May, 6.00pm
• PSA Sport v Hale – Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May
• CCGS / St Hilda’s Year 8 Cape to Cave Program 3: Sunday 17 May to Thursday 21 May
• Year 11 and 12 Semester 1 Exams – Monday 18 May to Thursday 28 May
• Year 10 Parent Information Evening – Year 11 Subject Selection – Wednesday 20 May, 6.00pm
• House Cross Country – Friday 22 May

Jamie Foster
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

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• Becoming safe digital citizens
• Wellbeing resource – SchoolTV
• Open classrooms
• Year 6 Canberra tour

This term, our boys continue to learn how to be smart and safe digital citizens as technology becomes a bigger part of school and home life. In class we practice using kind words online, protecting personal information, and thinking carefully before we post or share. We talk about what to do if something online feels unkind or confusing, including how to pause, save evidence, and ask a trusted adult for help. Families can support this learning by setting simple screen-time routines and having regular conversations about apps, games, and group chats. By working together, we help boys use technology for learning, creativity, and connection while staying respectful and safe.

As a school, we are lucky to have access to a valuable wellbeing resource in SchoolTV. This resource is an online platform that provides parents with a large range of interviews, articles and video presentations on relevant wellbeing issues for our boys. The topics on SchoolTV include Resilience, Anxiety, Transitions, Cyber Safety and many more. By clicking on a link, parents can access up-to-date information on relevant issues which can help to start conversations with their boys.

Through the class newsletters, parents will be provided with access to this information, and the content will be updated regularly through the term. We encourage all parents to interact with SchoolTV to work towards better wellbeing for our boys.

During Term 2, each class from Pre-Primary to Year 6 offers an Open Classroom experience for parents. Considered a form of informal reporting, the Open Classroom allows boys to demonstrate their understanding of a chosen concept or showcase a variety of learnings undertaken in the class. We hope all parents are able to attend this opportunity. This week, Year 1 (Wednesday) and Year 3 (Friday) boys engaged in their Open Classrooms and families are notified of when they take place through the weekly newsletter.

Our Year 6 boys are currently having a fantastic time on their Canberra Tour, making the most of every opportunity to learn, explore and represent our school with pride. Across the week, the boys have been immersed in the history and civic life of our nation’s capital, visiting key national institutions and landmarks and gaining a deeper understanding of Australia’s democratic processes and shared story. Beyond the sightseeing, the tour has been a wonderful chance for the boys to build independence, strengthen friendships and practice the skills that come with travelling as a group. We look forward to hearing their highlights when they return, and we thank our accompanying staff for their care and leadership in making this experience such a memorable part of Year 6. Read more here

Big congratulations to our BGM Award winners this week!

Finally, this Sunday is an important day for all our mothers as we celebrate Mother’s Day. I would like to wish all our mums a happy Mother’s Day with your families. Enjoy the weekend with your families and again thank you for a great start to Term 2.

“Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs….since the payment is pure love.” – Mildred B. Vermont

Happy Mother’s Day!

Dr. Steven Males
Head of Preparatory School