Valedictory Dinner: Farewell Class of 2025

On Friday 21 November, Girton Grammar School proudly celebrated the Class of 2025 at the Valedictory Dinner, held in the beautiful gardens of the historic winery Chateau Dore.

The evening marked our Year 12 students’ final transition to becoming Old Girtonians. Formalities began with an inspiring farewell address from Principal, Dr Emma O’Rielly, followed by a heartfelt toast to parents from Chelsea White (12 Riley) and a warm response from parent and Old Girtonian Susan White (1986).

Board Chair, Ms Fleur Jackson, announced the deserving recipient of the 2025 OGA Departing Girtonian Scholarship: Eva Westbrook (12 Frew). School Captains Nandini Gangaram (12 Aherne) and Harvey Lakey then (12 Frew) delighted guests with a nostalgic look back on their cohort’s journey, before teachers offered a light-hearted roast.

Deputy Principal, Mr Jay Weston, proposed a toast to the future, and Acting Head of Senior School, Mr Marcus Smally, addressed the cohort before graduates crossed the stage one final time to receive their Valedictorian gifts. The celebrations continued into the evening as students, families and staff enjoyed the enchanting garden setting.

A sincere thank you to everyone who contributed to making the night so special, including the Community Relations Team, the Tech Team, MC Mr Dave Martin and our talented Girton musicians. We also extend our gratitude to parents and carers of the graduating students and to Chateau Dore owners, Nicole and Glenn Walker, for their generous support in hosting this memorable occasion.

For the families who attended, an image gallery will be available and distributed over the coming weeks.

Year 10 Triathlon Winners

On Friday 14 November, a group of around 50 Year 10 students took part in a triathlon. Students had the option to compete individually or as part of a team of two or three. The weather was perfect, giving everyone the opportunity to fully enjoy the swim, bike, and run legs of the event.

Congratulations to all students who competed! Completing a triathlon is an incredible achievement—swimming, biking, and running in one race is no small feat. Every participant pushed through the challenges and demonstrated outstanding determination. You should all be very proud of yourselves.

A special congratulations goes to our individual competitors:

Jessica Brown (10 Jones) – 28:04
Levi Brain (10 Millward) – 28:27

After the race, students enjoyed some free time and a BBQ to celebrate the end of a great year in PE.

Humanities News: Students attend the Model UN in Bendigo

On 10 September, eleven enthusiastic students in Years 9 and 10, accompanied by Mrs Melinda Naughton and Mr Jack Smeelie, participated in this year’s Model United Nations (Model UN) conference at Weeroona Secondary College. Representing a diverse range of countries, including Japan, Rwanda, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, students stepped into the roles of diplomats to debate the pressing global issue:

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS.

Throughout the day, delegates engaged in formal debate, negotiation, and resolution-writing as they worked to address international challenges from the perspective of their assigned nations. The event encouraged critical thinking, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of global politics.

The students involved were required to attend a lunchtime session to prepare for this event and are commended for their commitment and willingness to take part. Each represented their respective nation with confidence, demonstrating maturity and curiosity.

Congratulations to all participants:

Representing Japan: Eva Gross (10 Frew), Alishba Hadi (10 Frew) and Oliver Jacobs (10 Jones)

Representing Mexico: Ariya Marwood (10 Millward), Ethan Telford (9 Jones) and Teagan Whiteman (10 Aherne)

Representing Rwanda: Aditi Kumar (9 Jones), Mitchell Pole (10 Jenkin) and Kai Warner (10 Aherne)

Representing the United Kingdom: Layla Halliwell (10 Jones) and Hattie Lawson (10 Frew)

Student Reflections:

On Wednesday 10 September we went to participate in the Model United Nations. I represented Japan alongside Eva and Ollie. I enjoyed getting the opportunity to research Japan's views on the topic and learning about the different beliefs and values of many countries around the world.

Alishba Hadi (10 Frew)

I represented the country of Rwanda, which was a prominent leader in female parliamentary representation. The Model United Nations was a very insightful and interesting program. The unmoderated caucus, a section of the Model UN where countries would share ideas, collaborate, and form new amendments, was the most engaging part of the day. The Model UN is an immensely valuable experience if you are interested in international relations, diplomacy, or even if you're keen to understand how the UN operates, I would strongly recommend attending in 2026!

Aditi Kumar (9 Jones)

At Model United Nations I represented the United Kingdom, along with Layla. I enjoyed the lively debate, and the communication with the other countries, acting as the UK. I learned more about the way the UN operates and the many spheres within it. Thank You for the opportunity to participate in this program.

Hattie Lawson (10 Frew)

GCAG News | Thank you, Girton community!

The Girton community has once again demonstrated its compassion and generosity through this year’s “It’s in the Bag” charity drive. Thanks to the incredible support from students, families, and staff, we were able to create more than 20 bags filled with essentials and special gifts for women, girls, mums and bubs in need.

These lovingly packed bags will make a meaningful difference to recipients during what can be a challenging time of year. Each donation—large or small—helped ensure that local women and families feel valued, supported, and remembered.

A special congratulations goes to Millward House, which proudly contributed the highest number of donations this year. Thank you, Millwardians, for your enthusiasm, generosity, and ongoing commitment to this worthy cause.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire Girton community for rallying behind this important initiative.

Your kindness truly makes a difference.

Congratulations to the Year 7 Page to Stage Elective!

Totally thrilled that this creative young production team managed and developed their ideas into two performances. They collaborated beautifully together, having fun whilst problem-solving, assigning roles to share tasks, including direction, choreography, costume design, prop design, programs, lighting and projection. They represented our Girton Performing Arts with pride and excellence.

Huge thanks and appreciation for Mr Oliver Willits for mentoring Thomas Say (7 Jones) and Noah Harrison (7 Jones) to do the tech.

Much appreciation goes to the parents and friends who attended at 6:00pm on a Friday night to support these students and witness our young stars of future Girton productions.

A lovely way to end this past week.

Congratulations to:

Dulcie Clarke (7 Aherne) and Matilda Martin (7 Jones) for their performance of two songs from Hamilton.

The entire class, who presented a medley of two songs from Grease:

Steel Austin (7 Millward), Quinn Barri (7 Jenkin), Maeve Broadbent (7 Jenkin), Dulcie Clarke (7 Aherne), Lucy Dwyer (7 Aherne), Noah Harrison (7 Jones), Ruby King (7 Jenkin), Abby Leversha (7 Millward), Matilda Martin (7 Jones), Savannah Marwood (7 Jones), Lylah Rudkins (7 Frew), Thomas Say (7 Jones), Mia Woodhouse (7 Millward).

Girton Graduate Positions with Girton Grammar

Full time, 12 Month fixed term, $56,000

Girton Grammar School is offering two fantastic roles for motivated current Year 12 students who are ready to make an impact in a dynamic and supportive environment.

Graduate AV & IT Technician Placement

Each year, Girton Grammar School offers a unique opportunity for a recent Year 12 graduate to join the ICT and AV team as a Graduate AV & IT Support Technician. This 12-month placement provides hands-on experience across two dynamic areas of school operations — Information Technology and Audio-Visual production.

Working within a supportive team, the successful applicant will assist with day-to-day IT tasks, provide helpdesk support to staff and students, and contribute to AV setups for school events such as assemblies, concerts, and performances. The role provides invaluable exposure to both the technical and creative sides of technology, helping bridge the gap between school and future study or employment in the tech field.

Our current Graduate Technician, Oliver Willits, shares his experience:

“It has been an incredibly enlightening experience to step into this role straight after graduating Year 12. Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to work in both the IT and AV fields, learning practical skills firsthand. From the very beginning, I was warmly welcomed into the team. The role is incredibly diverse, offering hands-on involvement in both the day-to-day technical operations of the school and supporting various small and large events. Some of the most memorable moments have come from working behind the scenes on major school events such as Foundation Day, Speech Night, the Ensembles, Drama Performances, and weekly assemblies.”

This position is ideal for a Girton graduate with an interest in technology, media, or live production who is keen to learn in a real-world environment. The placement includes mentoring from experienced IT and AV professionals, providing a strong foundation for further study or a career in the technology sector.

Applications for the 2026 Graduate AV & IT Technician Placement will open soon. For more information, please contact the HR Department.

Teaching and Learning Assistant

Join the Corporate Services department for a 12-month placement playing a crucial role in representing the school’s values through exceptional administrative support and effective communication. In this position, you will:

Support daily operations such as reception, absentees, events, and meetings
Collaborate across multiple departments under the direction of the Head of Teaching and Learning
Help create a positive and organised environment for students, parents, staff, and visitors.

Strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail are essential for success in this role.

Applications close on 8 December with interviews taking place on 15 December.

Please refer to the full position descriptions for details about the roles, available on our website here.

Applications should be submitted here.

Don’t miss this opportunity to kickstart your career with Girton Grammar School!

Girton Parents & Friends

Friends of Junior School: Recipe Book