Senior School News

Thank you, Gojo Senior High School!

Over the past two weeks, Girton Grammar School played host to 13 students and two teachers from our sister school, Gojo Senior High School in Nara, Japan. Gojo has been sending a group of students to Bendigo every March since 1992, making it one of regional Victoria’s longest-running exchange programs. In return, Girton students studying Japanese have the opportunity to travel to Japan every two years during the spring school holidays. 

During their stay, the guests from Gojo immersed themselves in various activities, including performing a traditional Soran-bushi dance in the Harmony Day Assembly, teaching Junior School Japanese students origami, staying with Girton host families, and practising their English language skills while attending Senior School classes. 

This year’s visit was made even more special because Girton students and teachers who visited Gojo Senior High School in September 2024 were able to host our Gojo visitors. There were many tears as we farewelled our guests, but students and teachers alike promised to keep in touch with their new friends from Japan.

We wish our Gojo students a safe journey home to Japan!

Mrs Liz Blanks

Assistant Head of Jones & Co-Head of LOTE

International Women's Day in Aherne House

On Friday 7 March, Aherne House celebrated International Women’s Day during their House Assembly. A group of Year 9, 10 and 11 students volunteered their time to take part in this special event, recognising and celebrating the contributions and achievements of women worldwide as they continue striving for equality. 

The MCs for the event were Aherne House Captain Dulee Sirwardana, and Year 10 student Annie Bett. Eadi Williams-Berkeley and Emmeline Hauler highlighted the purpose of International Women’s Day, while Vidya Gangaram eloquently spoke about trailblazers around the globe who have shone a spotlight on this unique day and its significance. Sophia Kelly prepared a speech highlighting Australian women who have made significant contributions, which was delivered by Arabella Palmer in her absence. Additionally, Pippa Bett shared inspiring examples of remarkable women from the Bendigo region.

The assembly’s highlight was the special guest, former student and School Dux Dr Bethany Cunning, who attended with her mother and practice manager, Kathryn. Dr Cunning spoke about her career journey, sharing both its highlights and challenges. She also spoke movingly about the inspirational relationship she shares with her mother.

After graduating from Year 12, Dr Cunning studied dentistry at La Trobe University, where she earned the RACDS Award for high academic achievement in her final year. She also received the ADAVB La Trobe Dental School Award for achieving the highest average mark across her graduating cohort in 2014. Following her undergraduate degree, she specialised in orthodontics at the University of Melbourne. Today, Dr Cunning leads an all-female dental and orthodontic practice in Bendigo, maintaining her connection with Girton through students who visit her practice.

Dr Cunning’s advice was profound and empowering, encouraging all students – regardless of gender – to step outside their comfort zones to achieve personal growth and fulfill their potential. Aherne House students and staff felt privileged to have Dr Cunning share her time, wisdom and experiences so generously. 

Ms Kristen Simpson

Head of Aherne House

Year 8 Elective Program

French Immersion class makes 'Madeleines'

French Immersion is a new elective that immerses Girton students in hands-on French language, learning cuisine-related vocabulary while they prepare traditional French food. French Immersion is a great way to embed the French language by completing hands-on activities outside a traditional classroom environment. 

This week, we made the traditional delicacy ‘Madeleines’, which are shell-shaped teacakes infused with lemon zest. In French immersion, you are required to work as a small group or in a partnership to create a meal or snack. French immersion is not just about the food created – it’s about learning the language required to create a dish. All instructions are in French, and traditional techniques are used – making it essential for students to develop their language skills in a meaningful way, hence increasing the value they place on learning French within the school curriculum.

Japanese Immersion

Our Year 8 Immersion Japanese students explored Japan in the Lumination Lab last week. Joined by two teachers from Gojo Senior High School, our Year 8 class received a guided tour of historical sites and landmarks in Japanese. 

Page to Stage radio play

The Year 8 performers in the Page to Stage performing arts elective have completed a radio play of The Lorax, which they are preparing to present to audiences at the Bendigo Sustainability Festival on Sunday 30 March. The Lorax is a well-known cautionary tale of the consequences of greed and what can happen if we don’t work together to plan for a sustainable future. 

The elective has been designed for students interested in learning more about theatre and the processes involved, from reading a script to performing it live on stage. As part of this radio play project, the students have learnt how a production team collaborates to put on a play for an audience, from understanding the story and characters as actors and directors, to the roles of costume and sound design. 

A radio play is a story told purely through audio. It combines dialogue, sound, effects and music to engage listeners in the world of the play, allowing the audience to use their imagination to visualise the settings and action. A live radio play is a performance that demonstrates how this audio medium is created without the visual effects of a TV show, movie or theatre production. Before the advent of television, radio plays and live theatre were the primary source of storytelling. In recent years, we are once again seeing audio recordings gain popularity through podcasts and audio books, as well as through opportunities for vocal skills to be used in voiceovers for cartoons, animations and advertising. 

We would like to thank Principal Dr Emma O’Rielly for continually supporting inclusive performing arts initiatives, and our expert tech team, Mr Adrian Hodda, Mr David Plathe and Mr Oliver Willits. We also extend our appreciation to the Events and Communications Manager for the Bendigo Sustainability Festival, Mr Paul Kooperman, for the opportunity to contribute to this event.  

For more details about the upcoming performance at the Sustainability Festival, see our Community Notices. You can also listen to the Girton Page to Stage class performing The Lorax below:

Page to Stage Production Team:  

Finn Beattie, Hayley Brown, Charli Byron, Ellen Frigerio, Quinn Guthrie, Darcy Hanson-Price, Everson Kneebone, Harper McDonald, Ruby McGowan, Skye McPartlane, Amelia O’Reilly, Leah Pickering, Emma Pomeroy, Scarlette Riley, Evie Rockes, Ayla Seiter, Grace Smith, Hughey Smith, Quinn Thacker, Layla Turton, Emma Warner, Dulanya Wickrama, Amelia Wood 

Ms Mandy Ellison     

Head of Drama