Recent Events
Science Week
Science week started with a bang as the Year 7A joined with Miss. Thomas' and Mr. Willet's Year 3/4 classes. In groups of three, with a year 7 leader, students were given two pieces of newspaper, a meter of string and sticky tape, a chux wipe and an egg. They had to design a package that would protect their egg when dropped from a height, landing on cement. We had a variety of design, including parachutes, packages tied up with string, baskets, some of which were very creative. Shane then threw the packages off the Art Room roof, landing often with a splat! We did have a couple of eggs that survived the experience. Thanks to the 7A class for leading the evening and looking after the smaller students. We all had an egg-celent time!
Congratulations Stem and Language Lit TOM teams
Tournament of Minds STEM and Language Literature teams travelled to Latrobe University campus in Shepparton last Saturday to compete in the TOM Challenges for our region.
Over four weeks, students involved in both teams put in many hours of lunchtime and final day practices to ensure they were ready for the competition. The two teams put in excellent performances and the judges agreed, awarding both teams first place which sends them to the state final at Latrobe Uni Bundoora campus on the 8th September.
Thanks to Melonie Smith for all her work with the STEM team and Sharonlee Post and Chris Hargreaves for their work with the Language Literature team. Thanks to the many parents and family members who came to Shepparton to cheer our teams on.
Hope to see lots of support for our fantastic students in Melbourne on the 8th.
"Challenging the World to develop problem solving skills in Primary and Secondary students."
Winter Sleepout
Winter can be a time of exacerbated hardship for many. The CAGS Winter Appeal, in conjunction with Anglicare and The Bishop’s Winter Appeal, has endeavoured to provide some relief for those in our local community who face difficulties during the colder months.
On Thursday 15th August 17 students from year 9 – 12 participated in the Senior School Winter Sleepout. The goal of the event was to raise awareness of difficulties of homelessness and in the process to raise money to help out those in need locally. The students experienced a soup kitchen style evening meal and, after some heated games of UNO, viewed a documentary about homelessness which prompted some great reflection and discussion. They then spent the night sleeping rough in and around the VCE centre. On Friday morning they were stationed in various locations near the administration, middle and senior school buildings and attempted to collect money from passers-by as they arrived at school. These donations together with the money collected from their families and friends in the wider CAGs community saw the students raise approximately $1500.00.
A big thankyou to all who gave generously to the sleep out.
A reminder that our other Winter Appeal endeavours will continue through term 3. We welcome donations of non-perishable food items from our junior school families and toiletries from our middle school families.
Junior School NAIDOC Day
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Celebrations are held around the country each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Our junior school along with the exceptional assistance from the 5/6 students celebrated our annual NAIDOC day on Friday the 2nd of August. Teachers implemented a variety of cultural activities for students to engage in and explore.
Students played traditional Indigenous games; explored languages in both Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta through song and dance; used the art of dot painting to design and decorate eucalyptus leaves using both modern and traditional earth colours and students and staff worked collaboratively to decorate a hand template which then went on to form the very impressive ‘Rainbow Serpent’ based on the Dreamtime story ‘Warnayarra the Rainbow Snake’.
The atmosphere around the junior school throughout the afternoon was buzzing with positivity and happiness which made for a great day for all.
A big thank you goes out to all the teachers, staff and students involved.
Jacinta Robbins
2019 Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge Results
As the 2019 Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is coming to a close I would like to keep you updated with the results. The whole class to meet the challenge first were Prep L.
Students to first meet the challenge individually were:
Year 3 - Coralie Guthrie
Year 4 - Emelia Cole, Jaidyn White
Year 5 - Julian Guthrie, Alexandra Stillard, Tom Curnick
Year 6 - Abigail Brooker, Christian Demaio, Teagan Wilkin-Thom
Year 8- Ainsley Guthrie
Year 9- Rory Brooker, William Large
The following student went over and beyond as they logged 100 books:
Year 3 - Coralie Guthrie
Also a special mention to:
Year Prep W - Heidi Guthrie who independently logged 89 books.
What a fantastic achievement by not only these students but all those involved. The Challenge continues until the 6th September.
Elmore Interschools: Equastraian
During the July School Holidays, three CAGS students competed in the Elmore Equestrian Club interschool competition, Lyra Mete, Sarah Stone and Ava Morgan-Trease.
Results for the weekend included:
Dressage, Lyra 5th, Ava 2nd
Showing, Lyra 6th, Ava 8th
Handy mount, Sarah 3rd, Ava 13th
Sarah picked up:
Reserve Champion show jumping
Reserve Champion Combined Training
Reserve Champion Working Hunter
The CAGS team finished 4th overall. The girls all had a great time and although the weather was pretty chilly enjoyed a weekend away with their horses. A big thank you to Virginia Stone who has acted as team manager for the last two competitions and well done to Lyra who attended her first. The girls have done so well this year and have qualified for the state championships next year at the National Equestrian Centre in Werribee.
VCE Agriculture Trip
Yesterday the VCE Agriculture and Horticulture class joined with the Kyabram P-12 College Ag class for an indepth study of Unit 4 Outcomes.
We walked around a farm looking at environmental degradation, sustainability issues and considered how to construct a whole farm plan. They applied their knowledge of crops and animals to what was happening on the farm, and also looked at the effect of fertilizer, pesticides and weeds and how they were controlled. Trees featured heavily as a solution to many of the environmental issues facing farmers today. We enjoyed lunch together, and also talked about government policies and legislature that farmers are affected by.
Many thanks to Matt McCready for his generosity in hosting the day. There was great discussion on the way back to school about what had been learnt.
100 Days of Prep
After keeping track of how many days Prep have attended school since the beginning of the year, it was with great excitement that we finally circled the 100th day. The children went to a lot of effort to dress up as 100-year-olds.
At an assembly each Prep student was presented with a certificate to congratulate them on this great milestone and we watched a video on the students being interviewed about their favourite part of Prep so far. The day proceeded with many fun activities involving 100 and a party to end our celebration.
Donna Williams & Kate Lee
