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• Year 10 Venture
• Preparatory School Swimming Carnival
• Campus works
• Centre for Excellence appointment

This afternoon and tomorrow, our Year 10 students and accompanying staff will begin preparations for their upcoming Venture journey, which takes place over 11 days. Venture is the pinnacle of Christ Church Grammar School’s Outdoor Education program, designed to take students beyond their comfort zones and routines to provide a truly unique and transformative experience. We wish our students all the best as they rise to this exciting challenge, and thank our dedicated staff for the immense work involved in preparing for such a significant logistical undertaking. We are confident that our students will be in exceptional hands throughout their journey.

On Tuesday this week, Preparatory School students participated in their House Swimming Carnival under perfect weather conditions. Our Early Learning Community also joined in their own Swimming Carnival. Events like these, made possible by our excellent Aquatic Precinct, are integral to fostering camaraderie, sportsmanship, grit, and mateship among students. From the earliest years, students are encouraged to develop a love of sport and healthy competition. Read more here

Tomorrow, we look forward to opening the annual Design and Technology Exhibition, where students and families are invited to explore and celebrate the creative work on display. The Christ Church community is welcome to attend the Exhibition’s opening night on Friday 14 November, from 5.30pm to 7.00pm. If you are unable to join us for the opening, you may view the exhibition during school hours from Friday 14 November, through Thursday 20 November. During these times, please be sure to sign in at the School’s Main Reception upon arrival.

Starting next week, necessary maintenance will commence on campus. Tiling work will take place around the Preparatory School Reception area, and to accommodate the work Preparatory School Reception will move to the back of the Preparatory School Reception building. Main Reception will be moving to join Prep Reception so that air conditioning work can be actioned in the Main Administration building and ARC upstairs. Signage has been installed to assist visitors in navigating to Reception. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this period.

On Tuesday 11 November, the School held a short but respectful Remembrance Service in the Chapel. These important events are an educational opportunity for our community to come together, reflect and acknowledge the past.

Lastly, I would like to congratulate Dr Brodie Reid for his recent appointment as the Head of the Centre for Excellence. Brodie has been with the School since 2022, most recently serving as Head of Chemistry, a role he has fulfilled with passion. Brodie will bring a wealth of experience to the role, building on the Centre’s focus of supporting and extending our most academically able students.

Alan Jones
Principal

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• Rock Extravaganza
• Campus life next week
• Venture preparations
• End-of-year standards reminder

Congratulations to all our musicians who performed at the Rock Extravaganza on Sunday afternoon. A great atmosphere with our talented and budding rockstars entertaining the large crowd with some classic rock, while the pizza man was kept very busy. A special thank you to the Music Department for their support behind the scenes.

Next week the school campus may seem relatively empty with Year 11 students completing exams and Year 10 students leaving for Venture. However, there is still a significant amount of work to be completed for students in Year 7 to 9. We will also welcome all our new students entering Year 7 in 2026 on Friday for a full day of orientation activities with their Head of House.

Undoubtedly, one of the School’s most challenging and rewarding opportunities is the Year 10 Venture. The preparation for the Venture ‘35’ program is progressing well towards its departure on Monday. Our pre-Venture activities include encounters with the ‘Snake Man’ and view amazing scenic pictures of the areas they will cover during their walk and paddles. On Friday they will be issued with rations for the first three days and pack their backpacks, which should give them some appreciation of the challenge they are about to undertake. They will also take a river walk with their packs to check ‘fit’ and prepare for the 11 days of carrying everything they need on their backs. I wish the students and staff well for a successful Venture.

As we begin the final three weeks of the school year, it is very important that all students maintain the standards of presentation expected of them through to the final day. Too often, students will claim that with holidays looming, ‘it doesn’t matter’, let me clarify that claim with ‘it certainly does’ and all staff and student leaders will be vigilant in our quest to maintain the highest presentation standards up until the Final Year 7  to 11 Prize-giving Assembly on Thursday 4 December.

Upcoming Senior School Events

• Year 11 exams commence – Friday 14 November
• Design and Technology Exhibition Opening night – Friday 14 November
• PSA Sport vs Aquinas – Friday 14 and Saturday 15 November
• Year 10 Venture departs – Monday 17 November
• Year 11 Exams conclude – Wednesday 26 November
• Year 10 Venture returns – Thursday 27 November
• PSA Sport vs Wesley – Friday 28 and Saturday 29 November
• Year 10 Peer Support Leadership Training (nominated applicants) – Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December
• Year 7 to 11 Final Prize-giving Assembly – Thursday 4 December 11.00am to 12.15pm

Mark Morrissy
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

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• Preparing for 2026
• House Swimming Carnival
• Reception maintenance works
• Celebrating sporting excellence

With Orientation Day fast approaching (next Friday 21 November), staff have been busily preparing classing for 2026. This process commenced back in Term 3, 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. Friendships form another aspect of ensuring your son has a smooth transition but is not the only factor that needs to be considered when developing the class lists.

At times, it can be difficult when your son is unhappy or worried about his new class. He may not know his new teacher or may not have his “best friend” in his class. It is important to reassure your son that it is normal to be unsure about change and reassure him that it will be okay. Christ Church Grammar School is fortunate to have access to the online Health and Wellbeing 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

We had a fantastic House Swimming Carnival this year for both our Early Years classes and Years 3 to 6 that took place on Tuesday. Both events were full of excitement as the boys showcased their swimming skills, team spirit, and determination. The Early Years students 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 for 2025 and to the boys of Wardung for the Spirit Shield.

From Monday 17 November, maintenance will begin on the tiles in and around the Preparatory School Reception, with completion expected by the start of the 2026 school year. During this time, Preparatory Reception will be temporarily relocated to the rear of the Preparatory School Reception building. The work area will be fenced off to all pedestrians, starting at the bottom of the ramp and continuing around the current entrance. Please note there will be no access to the playground from the upper level. To help guide parents and visitors, signage and coloured pavement dots have been installed this week. Students have been informed of the works, and the white umbrella drop-off and pick-up areas will not be affected. Thank you for your understanding as we carry out this essential upgrade.

This Friday we celebrate all the various sporting achievements at the 2025 Sport Assembly. Our guest speaker for the assembly is Sam Rose from the class of 2021.

Dr. Steven Males
Head of Preparatory School