Print

• Preparatory Swimming Carnivals
• UWA experiences
• Remembrance Day

Earlier this week, our youngest students took to the pool for the Preparatory School Swimming Carnivals, with Pre-Primary to Year 2 students competing on Monday and Years 3 to 6 following on Tuesday. These carnivals are always a highlight of the term, providing students with an opportunity to showcase their developing swimming skills. It was particularly pleasing to see students encouraging one another and embracing every chance to participate. Read more here

Our Year 8 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program students enjoyed their annual Discovery Days at The University of Western Australia yesterday, exploring new areas of learning and gaining valuable insights into future educational pathways. Today, our Year 9 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program students are participating in Djinanginy Day at UWA, an immersive experience designed to introduce students to university life through a combination of lecture-style presentations and hands-on activities. The students will also gain an understanding of the diverse pathways available for university entry. With a different focus each year, the program exposes students to a range of disciplines and encourages them to consider fields of study they may not have previously explored – this year’s theme is Engineering.

Yesterday, members of the School community gathered in the Chapel to mark Remembrance Day. The service provided students and staff with an opportunity to pause, reflect and honour the service and sacrifice of those who have served our nation in times of conflict and peace.

Our Year 10 students and staff have been busy preparing for the commencement of Venture next week. This significant experience challenges students to step outside their comfort zones, build resilience and strengthen their capacity for teamwork and leadership. We wish all participants every success as they embark on this important stage of their Year 10 journey and look forward to hearing their reports as they progress on their travels.

Looking ahead, we are excited to celebrate the creativity, innovation and craftsmanship of students at the opening of the Design and Technology Exhibition tomorrow evening. The exhibition will showcase an impressive range of projects produced throughout the year, highlighting the skill, dedication and problem-solving abilities of our students. We look forward to welcoming members of our community to this wonderful celebration of student achievement.

I currently serve on the AISWA board (Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia) and this week we met with the current WA Minister for Education,  the Hon. Sabine Winton MLA. We discussed matters relating to independent schools in WA including funding, curriculum, pathways, university access, trades and students with disabilities. I was with a group of principals who met with the CEO of ISA (Independent Schools of Australia) and discussed the strong growth of independent schools in Australia and the ability of this group of schools to advocate strongly for independent schools and funding.

Alan Jones
Principal

Print

• Rock Extravaganza
• Venture preparations
• Sporting fixtures
• Maintaining standards

Congratulations to all our musicians who performed at the Rock Extravaganza on Sunday afternoon. There was a wonderful atmosphere as our talented and emerging rock stars entertained a large crowd with an impressive selection of classic rock favourites. A special thank you goes to our Music staff and the Friends of Music for their tremendous support behind the scenes. Thank you also to the Music Committee boys, who looked right at home cooking up a storm on the barbecues and helping to make the afternoon such a success. Read more here

Next week, the campus may appear relatively quiet as our Year 11 students complete their examinations and our Year 10 students depart for Venture. However, there remains a significant amount of teaching and learning to be completed for students in Years 7 to 9. We will also have the pleasure of welcoming our incoming Year 7 students for 2027 on Friday 20 November. They will participate in a full day of orientation activities alongside their respective Heads of House as they begin their transition into Senior School life.

Without question, one of the School’s most challenging and rewarding experiences is the Year 10 Venture program. Preparations for Venture 36 are progressing well ahead of its departure on Monday. Pre-Venture activities include sessions with the ‘Snake Man’ and presentations showcasing the remarkable landscapes they will encounter during their hiking and paddling expeditions in the Nornalup-Walpole region. On Friday, students will receive their food rations for the first three days and pack their backpacks, providing a practical appreciation of the challenge that lies ahead. They will also undertake a river walk carrying their packs, allowing them to test the fit and prepare for the ten days of self-supported travel. I wish all students and staff involved a safe, rewarding and successful Venture experience.

Last weekend’s sporting fixture against Scotch was another excellent occasion, with strong performances resulting in victories across the majority of sports. A reminder that this weekend we compete against Wesley College in a Senior School fixture, and all Year 10 and Year 11 students must be in attendance to ensure fixtures can proceed as scheduled.

As we begin the final three weeks of the school year, it is important that all students continue to uphold the high standards of presentation expected at CCGS right through to the Years 7 to 11 Prize-giving Assembly on Thursday 3 December. Staff and the 2027 Prefects will continue to work closely with students to ensure these expectations are maintained, and we thank parents in advance for your support in reinforcing them at home.

Upcoming Senior School Events

• Year 11 exams commence – Thursday 12 November
• Design and Technology Exhibition Opening night – Friday 13 November, 5.30pm
• PSA Sport vs Wesley – Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November
• Year 10 Venture Departs – Monday 16 November
• Year 11 Exams Conclude – Wednesday 25 November
• Year 10 Venture Returns – Wednesday 25 November
• PSA Sport vs Guildford – Friday 27 and Saturday 28 November
• Year 10 Peer Support Leadership Training (nominated applicants) – Monday 30 November and Tuesday 1 December
• Year 7 to 11 Final Prize-giving Assembly – Thursday 3 December (11.00am to 12.15pm)

Jamie Foster
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

Print

• 2027 class allocations and Orientation Day
• Swimming success
• 2026 Sport Assembly

Orientation Day takes place next week (Friday 20 November), with staff preparing class lists for 2027. This process commenced in Term 3, with staff ensuring your son is placed in a class that will support and nurture his academic and emotional development. Classing is balanced across various needs such as academic, emotional, social and physical. If your son is unhappy or worried about his new class, it is important to reassure him that it is normal to be unsure about change and assure him that it will be okay. Please be aware that, given the careful consideration that goes into each placement, we are unable to move boys between classes should they be unhappy with their allocation. Christ Church Grammar School is fortunate to have access to the online Health and Well Being resource, SchoolTV. There are numerous articles that can be found on SchoolTV that discuss transitioning and how to handle this tricky situation as a parent. If you are interested in accessing these articles, please click here.

The 2026 Swimming Carnivals for both our Early Years classes and Years 3 to 6 took place on Monday and Tuesday where boys showcased their swimming skills, team spirit, and determination. The Early Years boys delighted us with their enthusiasm and courage, diving into activities designed to boost their confidence in the water. It was impressive to see the boys demonstrate their individual improvement since their involvement in the recent Term 4 swimming program. Meanwhile, the older boys demonstrated impressive strokes, speed, and sportsmanship in each race. Thank you to all the families who came to support, and to our dedicated staff who helped make the day memorable. I would like to thank Mr Brady Leckie and Mrs McKenzie Pugh for organising both events. Congratulations to all the boys in Yonga who ended up securing the House Swimming Cup again for 2026 and to the boys of Karda for the Spirit Shield. Read more here

This Friday we celebrate all the exceptional sporting achievements at our 2026 Sport Assembly. We have a great number of students who work hard to achieve success on the sporting field, and we will recognise boys who have accomplished representative levels as well as our Fairest and Best and Coaches Awards for our Year 5 and 6 JPSSA summer and winter sport teams. Our guest speaker for the assembly is Mrs Jody Venebales, our very own Year 5 teacher who also represented Australia in Athletics. We look forward to celebrating our boys and hearing Mrs Venables story.

As we head into the warmer months, families are reminded of the importance of sun protection. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with at least two in three Australians diagnosed in their lifetime. Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for sun damage, making it important to establish sun-safe habits early.

The School reinforces SunSmart practices by reminding boys to wear their hats outdoors, seek shade and reapply sunscreen before sport and outdoor lessons. Families can support these efforts by applying SPF 50+ sunscreen before school and ensuring boys bring a named School hat and sunscreen in their bags each day. UV radiation can cause skin damage even on mild or cloudy days, so sun protection is important whenever the UV Index reaches 3 or above. By reinforcing the same messages at school and at home, we can help boys develop habits that protect their health for life. Thank you for your support.

Dr. Steven Males
Head of Preparatory School