Ballarat Grammar Annual Report 2021

ANNUAL REPORT 2021

ANNUAL REPORT 2021 This is the forty-ninth Annual Report of the School and the sixth report of Mr Adam Heath as Headmaster.

Planning Committee • Associate Professor Robyn Pierce (Chair) • Mr Geoff Ryan (Deputy Chair) • Dr Shantini Deutscher • Dr David Mackay • Dr Damian Powell

The School is a company limited by guarantee, with the Bishop of Ballarat, The Right Reverend Garry Weatherill, as President, and twenty other Members drawn from different constituencies within the Grammar community.

Co-opted Members

Board of Directors The governing body of the School is a board of ten Directors. The Board meets eight times per year, as does the Finance Committee. Each of the other ongoing Committees meets at least once per term – Planning, Nominations and Audit and Governance.

Responsibilities of the Board Now operating a learning enterprise for approximately 1,800 students and over 400 staff and managing a business with an annual turnover exceeding $46 million, the Board has significant responsibility. It has been fortunate to have specialist expertise from different corporate and professional sectors and experience of governance in a range of entities.

We have much cause to be grateful for Directors’ generous commitment of time, and for the expertise which they bring. The School expresses gratitude to Chair, Dr Shantini Deutscher and Deputy Chairs, Mr Tim Hovey and Mr Alan Swanson, for their enormous commitment to the School as well as their interest in and commitment to so many of the School’s activities.

We have a full complement on the Board of Directors over 2021 and membership of the Board is as follows: Chair of the Board Dr Shantini Deutscher The Headmaster and the Business Manager, Mr Peter O’Dwyer, attend meetings of the Board and each of the following Committees: Finance Committee • Mr Tim Hovey (Chair) • Mr Alan Swanson (Deputy Chair) • Dr Shantini Deutscher • Mr Ewen Nevett • Associate Professor Robyn Pierce Co-opted Members • Mr Cameron Moore • Mr Phillip Mann • Mr James Coghlan Ex officio • Finance Manager, Head of Senior School Audit & Governance Committee • Dr David Mackay (Chair) • Mr Geoff Ryan (Deputy Chair) • The Venerable Michael O’Brien • Mr Alan Swanson • Mrs Georgia Yanner

Ex officio

Dr Maryann Brown

Ex officio

Director of Admissions, Deputy Head

We acknowledge the invaluable contribution made to the development of Grammar and the provision of scholarships and bursaries by the Ballarat Grammar Foundation.

Major Capital Projects  Renovated six rooms in Wigan boarding house to comply with COVID-19 guidelines.  The 5/6C build commenced early May 2021 under the supervision of the Board’s Projects Committee with an expected completion date of 18 February 2022.  Built three additional classrooms adjoining the Heinz Centre.

Landscaping of the Heinz precinct was also completed to complement the new build, creating a stunning natural precinct for our Year 9 students.  Oval redevelopment commenced mid-September with a scheduled completion date of early May 2022.  Built a shared office for the boarding Heads of House in an area previously used to store bicycles and built a new bicycle storage area on the southern end of Dart House.  Wigan and Woodbridge boarding house extension works commenced under the supervision of the Projects Committee are scheduled for completion at the beginning of Term 2, 2022.  Constructed an additional classroom to the Cleaver building to assist in accommodating additional Year 10 students.  An adventure playground was constructed in the Junior School.  Recommenced concept design for the Rintel Centre, with the drawing process expected to be completed over the next 12 months.  Installed solar panels on the new Heinz Centre classrooms taking the total capacity of the panels to 530kw. The 5/6C building will have a further 140kw installed upon completion.  The Dining Hall extension commenced in Term 4 due for completion for the commencement of Term 2, 2022, allowing additional dining space and a Year 12 study area.

Finance Manager

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES OF THE YEAR There were some very high achievers in our VCE 2021 cohort:  Two students with an Australian Tertiary Admission Ranking (ATAR) above 99, with a top score of 99.55  Four students with perfect study scores of 50  14% of students with ATARs of 95 or above  30% of students with ATARs of 90 or above  53% of students with ATARs of 80 or above  Five students entered trade-based apprenticeships and one student entered a traineeship.

University destination data for the 2021 Year 12 cohort: Monash 17% University of Melbourne 19% La Trobe 7% RMIT 12% Deakin 25% Federation 5% Swinburne 4% ACU 5% 2% Victoria University Course destination data: Biomedical Science/Medicine/Medical Imaging 7% Nursing/Midwifery 5% Allied Health/Physiotherapy/Osteo 10% Accountancy/Business/Commerce/Marketing 16% Arts, Politics 11% Science 9% Engineering 8% Architecture/Industrial and Fashion Design 6% Education/Early Childhood 5% Law/Forensic Science/Criminology 4% Exercise and Sport Sciences 4% Agriculture 2% Computer Science/Animation 2% Outdoor Ed and Environmental Science 2% Animal and Veterinary Biosciences 1% Having been required to enter additional periods of Learning at Home, our community once again responded and adapted seamlessly. However, the seamlessness with which this occurred belied the enormous amount of work required by staff, particularly teachers, in preparing Learning at Home for our students.

Experience showed that the very best thing we could do for our Year 11 and 12 students was to press on with teaching and assessment, to avoid the stress of an accumulated work or assessment load upon their return.

Careful thought and reflection continue to be given to the recently highlighted areas of sex, sexuality and consent education. The Chair of the Health and Physical Education Faculty will be given a time release in Semester 2 to undertake an audit of the effectiveness of the health curriculum in teaching students in these areas. We have also developed a partnership with Independent Schools Victoria to develop a renewed scope and sequence of the teaching of consent education across the curriculum, developing new units for year levels where required.

Administrative and support staff worked tirelessly, from the cleaners undertaking approximately 30% additional hours to fulfill COVID cleaning requirements, to the finance team which recast the budget on four separate occasions throughout the year.

The compliance team also deserves great credit for the continual recrafting of our COVID safe policies throughout the pandemic.

The School’s learning management system, which had been adopted 24 months previously, proved invaluable throughout Learning at Home, allowing for the seamless provision of learning resources, as well as offering an essential communication platform.

Our boarding community continued to face possibly the greatest number of challenges with a return to School often threatened by differing state border restrictions. In addition to this, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) stipulated the need to reduce the occupancy rates in boarding premises by 50%, requiring the establishment of the Sovereign Hill boarding campus. Enormous praise must be afforded to Mr Chris Van Styn and the boarding team for managing to sustain the strong sense of community amongst our boarding ‘family’ throughout the many challenges of 2021.

The Board and leadership team of the School worked tirelessly to make difficult decisions, typically in the absence of adequate information, about how to approach each stage of the pandemic.

Our gratitude is once again extended to Board Chair, Dr Shantini Deutscher and Deputy Chair, Mr Tim Hovey for their tireless support of the School.

Students in the CEEd were able to continue with their learning largely undisrupted throughout 2021. The staff in the CEEd should also be recognised for the reassurance and stability that they provided for our youngest learners in the School, in addition to the usual outstanding care and extraordinary learning opportunities provided.

A much less structured approach was taken for our primary students, particularly those in lower primary years, with carefully managed teaching and teacher support with time away from screens.

Dr Rachel Toovey, physiotherapist, academic and leader, spoke at the International Women’s Day gathering and provided both challenge and inspiration to our community. It was a highlight to attend the Head of the Schoolgirls’ rowing regatta in the same week which, with over 2000 athletes, was a perfect celebration of women’s sport.

Our widespread adoption of the Learning Management System Schoolbox, which we refer to as NEXUS, proved invaluable. All learning materials in the Middle and Senior School were placed on this platform and it has served as one of the fundamental enablers of Learning at Home. Other platforms such as Seesaw, which is an eportfolio software, was used to similar effect in the Junior School and CEEd to complement NEXUS.

Matilda the Musical, an incredibly energetic and uplifting performance by a cast and crew of over 115 students, was an absolute highlight. It had only two of the scheduled four shows, a full dress rehearsal to the Junior School and then, for the first time for our performing arts team, a sell-out show on the Thursday evening prior to a COVID-related hard lockdown imposed immediately following it.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

The School continues to develop a data dashboard that enables teachers and mentors to gain an insight into their students’ academic progress. Our School is founded in strong, supportive relationships and it seems that the data can enhance, rather than detract from, the ability of teachers and mentors to provide advice, guidance, and more precise teaching approaches in response to the specific needs of each student. This dashboard will be ready for testing mid-year.

The year commenced full of optimism that 2020 was behind us and we had seen the end of the COVID lockdowns, but we quickly realised this was not to be. 2021 saw the Grammar community continue to change and adapt through another period of uncertainty. The wellbeing team supported staff, students and families with individual consultations and through the delivery of a range of existing, modified and newly developed wellbeing initiatives. We launched the new ‘The Six Ways of Wellbeing’ for staff and student wellbeing, based on current research, identifying a number of simple things to improve mood, reduce the risk of depression, strengthen relationships, keep us healthy and even add years to our lives. The “six ways” model targets connecting, moving, caring, learning, giving, and noticing.

Several other programs were developed or modified to be delivered online and in person.

Face to face presentations:  Andrew Fuller (Clinical Psychologist) presentation ‘An insight into the adolescent brain and strategies to support young people to thrive’. This was presented to Year 9 students, staff, and the entire school parent community.  Mental Health First Aid to staff across all sections of the school.  A Positive Approach to Managing Child Behaviour – a parenting program delivered to CEEd parents.

Online presentations:  Webinars presented by our wellbeing team of psychologists/ counsellors.  Helping your children through the emotional roller-coaster.  VCE student–parent support.  Managing anxiety in your family.  Tuning into Teens – to help Middle School parents teach their children emotional regulation skills, with over 500 families involved.

The School’s ongoing journey of compliance with the Child Safe Standards continued unabated in 2021. This remains as a standing item on the agendas of all Leadership and Board meetings, ensuring regular updates on progress. The School was notified that an additional five Child Safe Standards will be introduced in July 2022 and preparations have commenced for these.

Total School enrolment stands at 1,815 with approximately one third of these students receiving some form of scholarship, bursary or rebate.

Together with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, we have built an holistic program that supports local and non-local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The program strives to enrich the lives of all Ballarat Grammar students and families with greater knowledge, respect, and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages, whilst establishing culturally safe practices throughout our community.

The School worked with students, staff and the local Aboriginal community to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which provides cultural guidance and direction for the School. The RAP is endorsed by Reconciliation Australia and will be updated annually.

The School has been committed to supporting the education and attainment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in secondary schooling for some time and to this end has offered tuition and boarding scholarships to many local and non-local Indigenous students. We currently have 20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled across the School. Ballarat Grammar has been able to build its partnership with local Traditional Owners and Indigenous communities. We also continue to have a strong partnership with the communities of Kalumburu, WA and Timber Creek, NT. Our relationship with other communities has also grown.

We now have students enrolled from Halls Creek, WA and Humpty Doo, NT. Yarrabah Community, Qld and Port Keats, NT are also seeking education and immersion opportunities with Ballarat Grammar.

A select number of Indigenous Secondary Scholarships is available based on meeting the needs of the selection criteria.  The Bill and Sue Wood Family Scholarship  The Smith Family’s Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP)  Vedmore Foundation The students in the Indigenous Program at Ballarat Grammar are committed, motivated and are on track for a successful Year 12 completion with many students seeking tertiary pathways.

Our boarding community and its wholesome country values continue to be at the heart of the positive culture of our school.

With boarding enrolments of over 220 students from across Australia and a small number of international students, we are the second largest boarding community in Victoria.

With 248 students sitting scholarship testing, it has again proved popular and an indicator of strong enrolment trends. Scholarships continue to be a significant contributor to maintaining the diversity of our community.

City Cite continues to provide outstanding experiential learning opportunities for our Year 9 students for three weeks in Term 4.

Our students return from this experience with far greater confidence in managing themselves in Melbourne and a great appreciation of the culture and diversity of this city.

Literacy and numeracy initiatives have been continuing in the Middle School, with the Hochman literacy method continuing to be deployed to improve students’ core literacy skills. The Maths Essentials program has also been introduced into Year 7, with a very successful trial currently being reviewed and the likely result being this program’s introduction to Year 8 in the future.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Our Guardians embraced the challenges of another year of disruptions due to the pandemic in 2021. Once again, they supported our School community, and broader community, in a range of initiatives. This included the Salvation Army the “Digital Doorknock” for the annual Red Shield Appeal and the Anglicare Winter Appeal where a variety of goods was donated across all year levels and delivered to Anglicare for distribution. The annual Valentine’s Day Concert also proved a successful fundraiser for local charities.

Being at home didn’t stop Grammar's enthusiasm and determination in embracing the Learning at Home Guardian challenges. The Guardians set up all sorts of challenges from small victories to new spirit stick designs and even dance competitions. However, the biggest challenge was the Grammar Slumber Party, where our community camped under the stars, some even on a boat on Rottnest island, or under their own roof.

Service involvement continues to not only be a requirement for all students but at the heart of the ethos of the School. Our students understand and value their involvement in more than 180 community partnerships locally, nationally and internationally The recipient of a 2021 VCE Premier’s Award was Noah Esmonde for Agricultural and Horticultural Studies.

The following students were invited to participate in the 2021 VCE Season of Excellence which includes Top Class, Top Arts and Top Design concerts and exhibitions in Melbourne.

• William Laursen Habel – Top Class Theatre Studies • Ben Goldsborough – Top Class Theatre Studies Two new awards have been introduced to complement the School Colours recognition system. The Crimson and Blue awards have been established to recognise those students who make an extraordinary contribution, whilst not necessarily being the best, in sport or the arts. Points are awarded to every student who contributes at the first team level in sport or who is a member of a senior ensemble of performance. The initial threshold for recognition, the Crimson, is usually only available to students from Year 10 and upwards. The Blue award will usually only be achieved by students in Years 11 or 12. The names of these awards are based on two of the original Queen’s colours.

House spirit was flourishing at the carnivals and events that we were permitted to hold, including house swimming, Chorals and athletics for our Year 12s, with the rest of the School as enthusiastic spectators. The House System remains at the heart of the School’s approach to pastoral care and wellbeing, with class teachers, homeroom teachers and mentors offering extraordinary levels of care and support for our students.

Sport at Ballarat Grammar continues to be a vibrant and challenging co-curricular option for our students with high levels of participation across the more than 30 different sport offerings at the School.

Despite numerous disruptions, many sports were still offered across the year and the School enjoyed impressive successes.

Some of the highlights that Grammar students have enjoyed:  ICCES overall team champions.  BAS Badminton – Open Mixed A Grade champions.  BAS Basketball – Junior A Girls’ champions  BAS Cricket – 2-Day 1st XI Senior Boys’ champions  BAS Football – Senior Girls’ and Intermediate Boys’ champions  BAS Hockey – Junior Girls’ champions  BAS Netball – Senior 1sts, 2nds and Aths champions  BAS Swimming – Senior Boys’ champions, Girls’ overall champions and ICCES overall team champions.

We were excited and more than a little proud to watch alumnus Lucy Stephan (2009) row in the bow seat of the coxless four to win a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, a first for Ballarat Grammar. We were similarly delighted when Year 12 student Ella Friend was drafted at number four in the national AFLW draft. Ella will join 2020 alumnus Renae Saulitis at the St. Kilda Football Club.

Outdoor and environmental education continues to form a crucial part of Ballarat Grammar’s approach to holistic education, offering students in Years 3 – 12 a wide array of unique learning experiences.

Current Life Governors (Listed in order of appointment) Mrs Dawn Macdonald Mr Barry Smith OAM Mrs Lorraine Bell Mr John Miller Ms Jo Watson Mr Bob Bath OAM Mrs Topsy Nevett OAM Mr Lindsay Evans The Hon Robert Knowles AO Mr Graeme Eyres Mr David Fawell Mrs Pam Coghlan Mr Colin McIntosh Deceased Life Governors (Listed alphabetically) The Hon WH (Bill) Borthwick AM Mr Wallace Cochran Mr Alfred Hancock Mr WH (Peter) Heinz OAM Mr Norman Must Mr Geoffrey Petch Mr Geoffrey Richards Mrs Alison Rucco Mrs JM (Jessie) Scott MBE Mr Norman Stevens Miss CE (Kit) Williamson

A notable achievement that occurred in Term 1 was the success of our senior boys who won all Senior BAS trophies on offer: Tennis, Swimming, Cricket and Volleyball. Our rowers also enjoyed a very successful season with the Senior Boys’ Division 1 crew winning the Head of the Lake.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Income and Expenditure

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2021 BALLARAT GRAMMAR Learning to Thrive; Engaged in the World Our regional Anglican school fosters: • academic aspiration • trust • opportunity and engagement • optimism and resilience • social and environmental justice within the search for faith and meaning.

The Essence of Ballarat Grammar Ballarat Grammar aspires to create a positive future whilst drawing on the proud traditions of the School dating back to 1877, when Queen’s College opened. In 1910 the Anglican Diocese founded Ballarat Grammar School which opened in 1911, and in 1973 these schools combined to form Ballarat and Queen’s Grammar School.

The co-educational school, known as “Ballarat Grammar”, educates approximately 1800 students from early childhood to Year 12, with the campus based on 16 hectares of parklike grounds north of Lake Wendouree. Over 220 boarders live on campus in five familyoriented boarding houses. Boarders are predominantly country students from all states, with a small number of overseas students.

The earliest learners, from age six months, are in childcare in the Centre for Early Education (CEEd) which offers programs, based on the Reggio Emilia philosophy, for three- and four-year-old children.

The CEEd also has a strong focus on Positive Education and provides extraordinary experiential learning through its Bush Kinder programs.

The Junior School is authorised as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, delivering the Primary Years Program (PYP). This offers the Australian Curriculum in an internationally renowned framework. Year 4 classes operate for most of their week in a purpose-built Agricultural and Environmental Learning Centre, The Stephen and Sue Higgs Centre, on the School’s 50-hectare farm at Mount Rowan, 3 km north of the Wendouree Campus.

The enriching breadth of student involvement expands as students move into the Senior School, where programs lead towards a choice of over 40 VCE studies and a VCAL stream, with excellence in outcomes illustrated by numerous Premier’s Awards.

Throughout the School, academic aspiration is fostered within a framework which nurtures holistic personal growth, in a researchbased, structured wellbeing program and students being offered an extraordinary range of co-curricular and service activities. This is founded in positive relationships between and among students and staff, a distinctive feature of the School being the warm, respectful, and trusting relationships which characterise its community. These in turn reflect the Christian values at the heart of Ballarat Grammar, expressed in the Anglican tradition of openness and inclusivity, in ways which invite students to search for meaning.

An ambience of ambition and encouragement supports students as they explore diverse talents and range widely. Learning is enriched by partnerships, most importantly with parents, who work closely with the School to sustain young people’s development.

Students compete in more than thirty different sports; they perform and exhibit at the highest level in different visual and manual, musical and theatrical arts; they take on outdoor challenges from the Grampians to the Alps; they are active in service to the local community in myriad ways, and in action for social justice.

The ethos of service is at the core of Round Square, an international fraternity of over two hundred schools, committed to working together for a better world. This fundamental commitment involves students in many ongoing service projects, both locally and globally, from working with disadvantaged youth in Wendouree West to building school facilities in earthquake devastated villages in the Himalayas or offering English lessons in Timor Leste. Term-long exchanges to Round Square schools in eighteen countries, and service-based conferences, for example, in Southeast Asia and Africa, foster international understanding through friendship and service. Helping others through service enriches students’ lives by building positive connections with their communities and helps them to find meaning and fulfilment. It introduces them to the fundamental need to make a positive and ongoing contribution to their community. (At an international and national level, the pandemic has curtailed many activities).

Round Square membership also requires a commitment to action on behalf of the natural environment. From the earliest days, Ballarat Grammar has had a strong connection with the land. This is expressed most obviously today in a thriving Agriculture and Horticulture program based at the Mount Rowan farm, and also in the environmental underpinnings of the Year 9 program, housed in a centre with its own wetland on the main campus. The School’s commitment to environmental improvement is apparent in expanding rooftop photovoltaic arrays to over 250 kw, with a wind turbine mounted on the Centennial building.

Year 9 students venture to explore the City of Melbourne, spending three weeks at the School’s City Cite campus, usually living in Melbourne for that experience. One measure of the value of that experience is that thirty other schools send their classes to City Cite for programs run by Ballarat Grammar.

The outstanding facilities of the Wendouree campus support learning in many forms: modern classroom facilities are designed to facilitate collaborative learning; the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts enriches school life but also catalyses community engagement. Such facilities strengthen the arm of our most important resource, a talented and committed team of teaching professionals. The generous provision of physical resources also speaks of the generosity of spirit of the School’s community. In this spirit, Grammar welcomes students from many backgrounds, from Ballarat, across Victoria, from all States and from overseas; students from regional and remote communities; students of different faith backgrounds; students from refugee and indigenous communities.

Surveys show that students leave Grammar with high levels of confidence about their future. Following expert career guidance, they progress to many and varied destinations, emboldened by strong and abiding relationships formed at school. Equally, Grammar looks to its future as an exemplary school, providing exceptional value not only to its members but also to the wider community.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

KEY STUDENT OUTCOMES Around 1,800 students attended Ballarat Grammar in 2021, commencing in our childcare, kindergarten and reception programs in our Centre for Early Education, through the Junior School (Prep Year 6), Middle School (Years 7 – 9) and Senior School (Years 10 12).

Our boarding students, between Years 7 – 12, live at Grammar in five boarding houses; most come from regional areas of Victoria and New South Wales, with a small percentage being international students.

Our close relationship with indigenous communities in Kalumburu in WA and Timber Creek in NT continues however, due to COVID we postponed the Kalumburu and Timber Creek enrolments. This decision was supported by the Department of Education, Northern Territory Government.

Below are the data for 2021 student home languages.

This data is for Junior, Middle and Senior School.

The average attendance rate was 98.1% over Years 1 to 10. The attendance rate by year level is as follows: Junior School Year 1 99.85% Year 2 99.86% Year 3 99.81% Year 4 99.69% Year 5 99.79% Year 6 99.76% Middle and Senior School Year 7 96.07% Year 8 95.83% Year 9 95.15% Year 10 94.83% In the compulsory years of schooling (to age 17 as of 2012 in Victoria), Ballarat Grammar is accountable for students’ attendance. A roll is taken of student attendance every class during Periods 1 to 5 and any absences are followed up by administrative staff with parents. Furthermore, given the sequence of our carefully planned learning activities, it is important for students to be in attendance throughout the year, unless illness occurs, or a serious family matter takes precedence.

If there appears to be a need for a student to be absent for reasons other than these, parents are expected to seek permission for absence from the Head of the Senior School, the Head of Middle School or the Head of the Junior School. In these situations, students would obtain work from their teachers to keep up with the curriculum. The Ballarat Grammar NEXUS online learning management system and the netbook program in the Senior and Middle School allows all students to access their work, and communicate with teachers, from beyond the School.

The figures above represent the percentage of students who achieve at or above the national benchmarks established for each area of NAPLAN testing.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Year 3 – National Minimum Standards for Reading, Spelling, and Grammar & Punctuation were met or exceeded by 100% of students. Moreover, the Mean Scaled Scores in all five test domains were their highest since 2017. The mean and median scores for Spelling, however, were slightly below their state equivalents. This suggests that while the significant energy devoted to the teaching of phonics-based reading is starting to bear fruit, more scrutiny of the efficacy of the Smart Spelling program is needed.

Year 5 – Five-year trend performance on all areas has dipped slightly since 2019. This can largely be attributed to the effects of COVID-19, which had a significant impact on how effectively the School could use explicit teaching strategies during the several and prolonged periods of lockdown. The median scores for Spelling and Grammar and Punctuation now sit slightly below state equivalents. These areas can be addressed with targeted teaching across all year levels.

Year 7 – All five domains remain above state averages, with a slight dip in Writing and Spelling relative to previous years. The influence of COVID-19 can again account for this, with many students losing learning in Year 6 due to lockdowns. More explicit teaching of writing across multiple subject areas, and especially of disciplinary vocabulary, has already been established via our middle years Literacy Project to compensate for this.

Year 9 – All areas of NAPLAN maintained their performance relative to their five-year trends, with just a slight dip in Numeracy average scores. This is encouraging given both the influence of COVID-19 during the last two years and the large intake of students from regional areas who traditionally come to board at Ballarat Grammar in this year level.

Results in the core Maths and English studies continue with positive differential between expected Study Scores and actual VCAA Study Scores attained. Students continue to achieve ‘perfect’ study scores of 50 in a variety of subjects, including, in the past three years: Further Mathematics (2), Legal Studies (1), English (4) and English Language (1).

Post-School Destinations On Track Data 2021 for Year 12 cohort in 2020 are expected to be available through VTAC and VASS mid-July. On receipt of the data, we shall republish this document.

SATISFACTION Parent, Teacher and Student Satisfaction Extensive consultation with students, staff and parents was undertaken throughout 2020 as we navigated the COVID-19 pandemic as a community. We were very encouraged to receive considerable affirming feedback from our families on the School’s navigation of the various challenges of 2020.

Enrolments continue in record numbers for the Centre for Early Education, Junior School and for both day and boarding placements in the Middle and Senior School. The School continues to rely on word of mouth, giving a simple practical measure of an atmosphere of parental satisfaction.

Regular informal assessments indicate high levels of satisfaction from Grammar staff and parents. As with all institutions, there is room to improve; however, the overall picture is very positive.

Literacy This year saw further consolidation of staff training in disciplinary literacy instruction via our dedicated Literacy Project. Guided by the Literacy Co-ordinator, Sally Smith, staff from several Faculties were trained in how to apply instruction methods from The Writing Revolution. This promotes a consistency of approach to literacy instruction across the School, which is reflected in the consistently high achievements of both our Year 7 and Year 9 cohorts.

Numeracy Numeracy continues to be strong across the Junior and Middle School. 98% of students across Years 3 to 9 met or exceeded National Minimum Standards in Numeracy. This result is testimony to sound instructional processes undertaken by our Middle and Junior School teachers, with a more detailed evaluation of the Maths Pathways program at the middle years due for review later this year.

Secondary School Outcomes In VCE, achievement in each of the Studies is assessed on a scale of 0 - 50 with the state average study score being 30. In 2021, our average study score was 32.4 and 100% of our students sitting the VCE satisfied the VCE requirements.

In 2021, 93% of VCE students achieved an ATAR above 50, while 30% achieved an ATAR above 90; our three highest were 99.55, 99.45 and 98.90.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

TEACHING STAFF EXPERIENCE

STAFF QUALIFICATIONS Headmaster Mr Adam Heath BA, Dip. Ed., MSL, MACE Deputy Head & Head of Middle School Mr C W Beechey BA(Sc) (Deakin) DipEd (Melb) MEd (Deakin) Deputy Head & Head of Junior School Mr M C Warwick BTeach BEd (La Trobe) MEd (Melb) Head of Senior School Ms B G Cuthbert BDrama/Arts (VCA) BA (Hons) (Tas) BTeach (Prim &Sec)(Deakin) MEd (Deakin) Assistant Head – Administration Mrs L J Gunn BEd (Prim) (Flinders) BEd (Sec)(Launceston) Assistant Head – Teaching, Learning and Innovation Ms A F Ryan BSc (Melb) GradDipEd (ACU) GradDipRE (ACU) Assistant Head – Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Mrs S L Warwick BEd MHealthSc (UB) DipArts (Res Care)(ACU) Chaplain Reverend Dr Timothy Gaden BA Bachelor of Divinity PhD Divinity Business Manager Mr P O‘Dwyer Director of Risk, Compliance and Culture Ms L Moneghetti ATCL London, GDip Legal Training, BPA Monash, LLB Monash, MEd Federation Director of Admissions Mr B H Pipkorn BBus (BCAE) CA GradDipEd (Sec)(ACU) CertRelEd (ACU) GradDipMSMaths (ACU) Director of Boarding Mr C R Van Styn BEd (Hons)(Ballarat) GradCert Counselling (Monash) Director of Care Dr M Rayner BSc (VU) Hons (VU), PhD (Swinburne), MAPS. Director of City Cite Mr H M Leather BSc (Melb) DipEd(Melb) MProfAcc (Deakin) MACE Director of Curriculum Mr J Lee BA (Joint Hons), University of Liverpool PGCE, University of Sheffield Director of Development Mr T Polkinghorne Director of WCPA Mrs S Hyde Director of Finance Ms A Axen BComm (Ballarat) ASA (CPA) Administration and Finance Assistant Ms Z Hocking Director of Leadership and Service, Co-ordinator Middle School Learning Ms H O Wise BA (Hons) (Melb) DipEd (Monash) Director of Music Mr A S Dale BEd (Music)(MSC) Director of Sport Mr DA Rossato BAppSc (PE) Director of Staff Mr G S Wilkins GradDipEd (Ballarat) BA (VIT) MEd (Melb) Daily Program Manager Mr C Jones BAppSc (FU Ballarat) Grad Dip Ed (Physical Education) (Melbourne) MAppSc (Ballarat) MEd (QUT) Head of Innovation and Learning Technology Nathan Hargreaves DipIT (Ballarat) DipInterNW (Ballarat) CertIVIT CCNA BIT (Ballarat)

Teaching Staff Mr T Adams BA (Dip Ed) University of Melbourne Mrs N Adlington BEd (Prim) (FU) Mr A Akm BSc, M.Sc, PhD, PG DipEd (VIT) Mr R Allitt BSci (Melbourne) DipEd (La Trobe)|Mrs T Andrews Dip ED (Prim) BA Bus (Admin) Mr F Apostoli BArch (Deakin), Grad Dip Ed (Federation), Grad Cert Math (CSU) M Ed (Federation) Mrs J Ashman – Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Monash University Mr R A Bade BSc(Melb) DipEd(Melb) GradDipEdAdmin (Melb) Mr L Barber Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary), La Trobe University.

Mr Andrew Barker DipTeach BEd (ACU) Mrs S Barlow BMus (Melb), Grad Dip Ed (Monash), MEd (Melb), Cert IV Training and Assessment (IVET Mr A J Beech BEng (Hons) PGCE Mrs C L Bell BMus (Monash) GradDipEd (Monash) GradCertArtsHistoryEd (Monash) CertIVMIS (Ausmusic) Mrs A Bentley BArts/Teaching, Postgrad Dip in Educational Studies (Student Welfare), Masters Ed (Spec Ed Needs) Mrs A Binion BEd (Primary) (ACU) MEd (Melb) Miss A S Boyd BTeach (Secondary)(Deakin) BArts (Dance) (Deakin) Mrs K Brady BA (Melb) GradDipEd (ACU) Mrs L Bramble Miss K Brusamarello BEd (Ballarat) Mrs B Buckingham BA Visual Arts – Graphic Design/Multimedia (Ballarat) Grad Dip Ed – Visual Arts (Melb) Miss E Burnham BA (Ballarat) BTeach (Prim)(Ballarat) Mrs M A Cahir BEd (ACU) MEd (Melb) Mr J Castles BScAPP GradDipEd PostGradDip in Career Development Mrs J Y Chadderton BA (Hons)(UEA) PGDipArabic (Durham) PGCEd (London) RSATeach EFL (UEA) Mrs C Coghlan Mr A Conquest BA, Dip Ed. M.A English (QUT) Ms A Coote BEd (PE) Miss M A Cornell-Smith BEd (Prim) (ACU) Ms Z Cornell-Smith BEd (Prim)(ACU) Mr S Cox Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science (Ballarat) Grad DipEd (Ballarat).

Ms C Clare BA(Sc) Grad DipEd Ms J M Craven BA (UB) PGCE (Cambridge) Mrs S A Cuff BPrimEd (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) MEd (Melb) Mr B Curran BEd (Ballarat) Ms L M Curran BA(Sc) (Ballarat) DipEd(ACU) Mr P Curry B. Ed (Melb) M. Ed (Deakin) Grad Dip Writing (Vic Uni) Grad Dip App Sci (Melb) Ms S Davidson BABus (CSU) GradDip T&L (CDU) Mrs J Davies Ms L Dean BA BSocial Sciences (Pyschology) DipEd MPsyc Mr M B Dickinson DipTeach (Prim) BEd (Monash) GradDipEdAdmin (Melb) GradDipIT (Systems Admin)(Swinburne) MEd Studies (Ballarat) Cert IV Training and Assessment, Cert III Agriculture Mrs A Dillon BA (Hons) (Melb), BMus (ACU), Grad Dip Ed (Melb Ms S Dix Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) Mrs S Doust BA (Creative Arts) DipTeach Mr M J Downes BSocSc (Deakin) GradDipEd (Sec) (Ballarat) Ms M C Dunley BA(LIS) (Canberra) MB (RMIT) Mrs N A Dunne BA(VisArt) (Ballarat) GradDipEd Mrs D J Eldridge DipHum&SocSc (Ballarat) GradDipEd (Sec) (Ballarat)

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Teaching Staff (cont.)

Mr M J Elshaug BEd (Ballarat) Mrs S Fields Dr A T Ford BVSc (Melb) GradDipEd (Ballarat) Ms S M Garner BA (Hons) DipEd (Melb) MEd (Deakin) MHist (UNE) Mr R S Grant BAppSc GradDipEd (University of Canberra) Mr R G Gray DipAppSc (Ballarat) DipEd (Toorak) Mr D R Hardy BAppSc (Riverina) DipTeach (Mercer House ATTI) GradDipComp (Deakin) MACS Ms K Hart BSc (Nutrition) Latrobe GDipEd (Sec) (Ballarat) MEd (Student Wellbeing) (Melb) Ms L Harty BEd (EC&Primary) (ACU) Miss H A Hazledine BA (Ballarat) BEd (ACU) RegRAD(London) LicAssAICDAdvTeachDipABS Miss S K Healy BEquineSc (CSU) GradDipEd (Ballarat) Ms P M Herington BEd (Ballarat) GradDipComp (Ballarat) Mr J Hocking Grad. Dip. Ed. (Secondary) (Monash), BEng (Civil) (Hons) BA (Melb) Mr S J Hopkins BA Ed.(Deakin) BEd (Ballarat) Mrs A Humble BEd (Hons), GradDipOutdoorEd (Ballarat) Mr R F Hurley DipArts (Fine) (Ballarat) DipEd (Ballarat) Mr C Jones BAppSc (FU Ballarat) Grad Dip Ed (Physical Education) (Melbourne) MAppSc (Ballarat) MEd (QUT) Mrs C L Kelly BA (Ed) (Deakin) GradDipEd (Ballarat) Mrs A Kennedy Mr R J Klopak BEd (Manitoba) Mrs M Krause BSci (Melbourne) Dip Ed (Melbourne) BEd (LaTrobe Bendigo) Mr N Lambert DipEd, BA (Arts), Honours (English Literature), PostGradDip (French and Arts), PhD (Literature) Mr J Lappin Ms S Lakerink BA (Maths) (FU Ballarat) Mr N A Lanyon BA (Melb) DipEd (Melb) Mrs F J Latrobe BAppSc GradDipEd (Monash) GradCertComp (Deakin) Mrs L J Layton BVisArts DipEd (Ballarat) Mrs E Le Marshall BEd (P-10) (Ballarat) Mr B K Leonard BDes (RMIT) GradDipEd (Latrobe) CertIVWT&A Mr C R Lewis BA (UB) DipEd (Prim)(Monash) Ms G Lillie BA (Ed) (Ballarat) Ms B M Linahan BSc (Monash) Grad Dip Ed (Sec) (Ballarat) Ms C M Lisle DipTeach (Gippsland) BEd (ACU) Mrs H Marin Mr D Marriott BA (OE) DipEd (La Trobe) Ms C McDonnell BA (Deakin) BEd (Deakin) Ms T McGowan BEd BA (Science) Mr A McKnight BA (Deakin) BEd (Deakin) Mrs V McNabb GradDipEd (Secondary) (FedU) DipFP (Deakin) BSc (UWA) Ms R M Menhennet BEd DipEd (Ballarat) Mr M Mews Miss R Montgomery BEnvScience (Wildlife and Conservation Biology) Deakin University, Master of Teaching (Primary) (Melb) Mr C Morcombe Bachelor of Education (Ballarat) Miss A C Murdoch BA (Melb) BTeach (Melb) Mrs S Murdoch BComm, BArts (Melb) Masters of Teaching (Monash) Mrs P Nankervis BEd (Ballarat) Mr D Nevins BBus (Swinburne) Dip Ed (La Trobe) Ms D O’Donnell BA, QTS (UK) Ms L O’Keefe BEd (P-6) (FU Ballarat) Ms D E Oliver BEd (Sec) (VicCollege) Mr B Olver BSc (Monash) Grad Dip Ed (Sec) (Melb) Mr M J O’Neill DipEd (Ballarat) BA Bus (Management) Mrs A Paci Mr B G Peace BEd (Physical Education) (Ballarat)

Mrs C S Peace BEd (Physical Education) (Ballarat) Ms L Permezel BA (Melb) DipEd (Hawthorn) MA (UNSW) GradCertPlaywriting (NIDA) Ms R Pilven BVisArts and BBus Monash MTeach (Secondary) Fed Uni Mr A G Pitson BEd (MSC) GradDipEdAdmin (Deakin) DipResSchServ (Qld) Mrs M Polkinghorne DipEd (Early Childhood) Melbourne, Grad Dip (Primary) (Ballarat) Mrs T Poole BSc (Hon)(Monash) Grad Dip Ed (Sec) (Ballarat) Mr L N Pougnault BA BEd (Murdoch) Mr I P Riethoff BEd (Tas) Ms D Robertson BA DipEd (Monash) MEd Careers (ACU) CertIV TESOL (Holmesglen) Mr C Robson LTCL, BMus (Monash), GradDipPMus (University of Tasmania) Mr K Romanis BA (Hons) (USYD) DipEd GradCert RE (ACU) Ms E Rooney BSci (Manchester Metropolitan University) PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate of Education – Manchester Metropolitan University) BSci is a Hons degree Mrs E D Sabellico BA (CSU) DipEd (La Trobe) (Melbourne), MTeaching (Physics/Art Education) (Melbourne) Ms S Sedgwick BA (Ballarat) GradDipEd (Vic College) Ms L D Sharp BEd (UB) Ms S Sharp Mrs J Sharry Mr A W Shaw BCom (RMIT) GradDipEd (Ballarat) Ms M Shillington BA (Sc) (Ballarat) GradDipEd (Aquinas) Mrs D A Simmons BAppSc (Ballarat) GradDipEd (Sec) (ACU) Mr J P Simmons BAppSc (Ballarat) GradDipEd (Sec) (ACU) Mrs R L Smith BEd (Melb) Mrs S Smith Mr M T Stowe BEd (Ballarat) GradDipResSchServ (Qld) GradCert MYMathematics (ACU) Mr R G Sullivan DipTeach (Ballarat) GradDipHealth (Ballarat) Mrs D R Tesoriero BA (Ballarat) GradDipEd (ACU) MCouselling (ACU) Ms K J Theodore AdCertLabTech AssDipAppSc (LabTech) (Ballarat) BAppSc GradDipEd (Sec) (Monash) GradCert MYMathematics (ACU) MEd Student Wellbeing (Melb) Reverend Canon P D Treloar BA (Sydney) BTheol (MCD) GradDipEd (ACU) GradDipMentalHealth (Monash) MPsychCouns (UB) Mrs H Trotter BEd (Hons) Southampton Uni, UK Mr JP Trijsburg Mrs N C van Berkel BEd (ACU) Mr G Walton Ms K R Ward BEd(Ballarat) MEd (ACU) Mr A C R Watson DipAD (Vic) DipEd (Melb) GradDipAdolHealth (Melb) Ms J White BA (VisArt) GDEd (UB) Mrs F L Whitehouse BA (ACU) BTeach (ACU) Mrs J M Williams BA (Hons) (Melb) BA (Hons) UNEDipEd (Melb) GradDipLibrarianship (RMIT) CertFreeJourn (ACJ) GradCertHRM (Bathurst) Ms K L Williams BEd (UB) Ms R B Williams BAppSc (RMIT), GradDipEd (Sec) (Ballarat), MEd (US) Mr M Williamson MEd (Wellbeing) (ACU Melbourne) Mr J Wilson B Exercise Science & Human Movement (VU Footscray) GradTeach (Primary) (Fed Uni) Mr S W Woodrow BA (RMIT) DipEd (Prim)(UB) Trista Wright Ms J Wang BA (Beijing) MEd (Beijing) MTeach (Fed Uni) Mrs B Wu BSc (Beijing) DipEd (La Trobe) MEd (Deakin) Mrs K Zaal DipEd BA (Monash) Mrs G N Zala DipTeach (Prim) (Ballarat) GradDipTeach-Librarianship (Ballarat) AISTD (London)

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Centre for Early Education (CEEd) Director - Mrs K Naylor BaAppSc (Disability Studies) (Deakin), DipCommServices (Childcare) (Swinburne), Grad DipEd (Early Childhood) (RMIT) Assistant Director/Educational Leader - Ms T Abbott B.Ed. (Ballarat) GradCertECEd (Murdoch) Reception and Kindergarten Teaching Staff Ms T Abbott B.Ed. (Ballarat) GradCertECEd (Murdoch) Mrs L Baker Dip Teaching (Early Childhood) B.Ed. (EC) (Melb), MAPP (Melb) Mr J Betts Grad DipEd (Early Childhood) (RMIT) Miss B Davis B.Sci (Monash), Grad DipEd (Early Years) (RMIT) Ms M Forrest B.Ed. (Early Childhood & Primary) (Ballarat) Mrs A Hickmott DipChildServices (Ballarat), B.Ed. (Early Childhood & Primary) (FedUni) – Parental Leave (Term Four) Mrs M Hooper DipChildServices (Ballarat), B.Ed. (Early Childhood &Prim) (FedUni) – Parental Leave Mrs N Ivey B. Bus. (Latrobe), Grad DipEd (Early Childhood) (Victoria University) Miss O Kent B.Ed. (Early Childhood & Primary)(ACU) Mrs M McCahon B. Teaching (Ballarat), Grad Dip Ed (Early Childhood) (RMIT) Miss R Walker B. Ed. (Early Childhood & Primary) (FedUni) Mrs S Wilson BA (Acting) (Ballarat), Grad DipEd (Early Childhood) Reception and Kindergarten Associates Mrs J Askari DipChildServices (FedUni) Mrs Simone Corbett CertIIIChildServices, B. Ed. (Primary) (Swinburne) Miss B Davis BaSci (Monash), Grad DipEd (Early Years) (RMIT) Mrs L Di Giovanni DipCommServices (Childcare) (Ballarat) Mrs E Kuhle DipChildServices – Parental Leave Miss B Spratling CertIIIChildServices Miss V Stokes DipChildServices Mrs A Swan B.Ed (Early Childhood & Primary)(ACU) – Parental Leave (Semester Two) Mrs F Vandermost DipCommServices (Childcare) (Gordon) Infant & Toddler and Aftercare Lead Educators and Associates Mrs T Dalton DipChildServices (Ballarat) Miss E Jedwab DipChildServices (Holmesglen) Miss T Jenkin CertIIIChildServices Mrs Pawandeep Kaur CertIIIChildServices Miss A Kerr DipChildServices Miss R Leonard (nee Bye) DipChildServices Miss G Loader CertIIIChildServices Miss B Mahoney DipChildServices Miss G May (nee Taylor) DipChildServices – Parental Leave Miss L Morcombe DipChildServices (Early Education and Care) (Ballarat) – Parental Leave Miss K Mrowiec CertIIIChildServices Mrs E Northcott DipChildServices (Ballarat) Miss Emily Quinlan DipChildServices (FedUni) Miss A Sculley DipChildServices (Ballarat) Miss D Sharp CertIIIChildServices Mrs V Sporton CertIIIChildServices Miss B Spratling CertIIIChildServices Miss V Stewart CertIIIChildServices Miss T Tatchell CertIIIChildServices Miss M Vranesic DipCommServices CEEd Administrative & Ancillary Staff Mrs Melissa Polkinghorne (CEEd Administrator) Miss Brigide Bladier (CEEd Chef) Mr Michael Zala (CEEd Cleaner) Mrs Rene Richards (CEEd Cleaner)

Boarding House Assistants Ms S Adamson, Mr R Brehaut, Mr M Drain, Mr T Eaton, Mrs J Sharry, Ms G Hearn, Mr T Gribble, Mr D Watson, , Mrs D Hanlon, , Mr A Hocking, Mr A Litris, , Ms F Murray, Ms Z Nevett, Mrs P Reinehr, Mr G Barber, Ms B Cuff, Mr D Cuff, Mrs S Dickson, Ms M Dobell, Mr H Gilmore, Ms G Hearn, Ms G Kristen, Ms E Litras, Mrs S Mews, Ms C Murray, Mr J Pritchard Instrumental Music, Voice and Speech Art Mr L G Askew BMus GradDipEd GradCertRE (ACU) Cert IV WT&A Ms C Bennett AMusA Estill Voice Training Levels 1 and 2 Mrs K Both DipTeach (PrimSACAE) Mrs S Brown BMus BTeach (Melb) Mr Francis Chataway Mr H Dale Miss I Dale BMus (Monash) Estill Voice Training Levels 1 and 2 Mr B Deenick BA (Monash) DipEd (La Trobe) Ms T Dulude Ms Antoinette Dillion Mr M Evans-Barker Mrs S Goodbourn BMus (Melb), GradDipEd (Melb) Mr I Govan AMusA CEO Teaching Registration CAA REIV Mrs K Govan BA (Music) (VCA) DipEd (Melb) Ms J Heley BMus BA AMusA Mrs A Ho BMus (Hon) Ms A Ives BA (Scottish Music Piping) Royal Conservatoire (Scotland) Ms M Jess BA AMusA NCAS Level 1 EFA Dressage Judge Ms B Johnson Mr B Jones Mr H Joyce Mrs M Kriss BAMus MMus (PT) GradDipEd (LaTrobe) Mr D Lawless Ms L McKenna BVisArts Mrs N Meddings BMus (Melb) Miss A Meerbach BA PerfArts (Ballarat), LTCL (Trinity College) Mrs J Nice Miss G Parry BMus (Melb) AMusA LMusA IDBF IRO G1 Mrs P Powell CEd (Manchester) LGSM Ms W Rechenberg MPVA (CSU) DipArt (Music) (VCA) AMusA Mr C Robson , LTCL, BMus(Monash), GradDipPMus (UTas) Ms S Savy DipArts (Ballarat University) Mrs C Schuler AMusA DipMus PerfCert GradDip Ed(Sec) Cert IV W&A Mr B Sozanski BA (Music,French) (Sydney) DipEd (Double Music) (Sydney) Associate Trinity College London (Piano tuition) Board Member VMTA Mr W Stewart BMus (Hons) (UWA), DipEd (Wollongong), APRA Full Writer Member (APRA), AMusA (French Horn), (AMEB) Mr M Westlake Mr G Williams MA ModMusEd&CreatCertEd Administrative & Ancillary Staff Ms A Aringo Ms M Barnes Ms J Bell Mrs M Boyer BA(Hons) (Religion and Theology/History) Monash, DipCommSer (Childrens' Services) Mrs R Brehaut DipBusAdmin, CertIVT&A Mrs S Brown Ms S Clifford Dip Bus Mngt/ Cert IV Frontline Mngt Mrs N Connors DipBusAdmin, CertIVT&A Ms J Coote AssDegree (Training and Assessment) Ballarat, AssDegree (Social Science) ACU, AdDip (Hospitality Management) Ballarat Mrs R Dagar-Clare CertIIIFinancial Services, CertIIIRetailMgmt Ms A Dwyer

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Administrative & Ancillary Staff (Cont.)

Ms S Eaton BAppSc Ballarat Mrs N Faulkner Mrs R Foote CertIVT&A, AdvDipCMgmt Mrs K Grech Ms A Johnson DipBus Mrs L Pearce Ms Z Hocking Mrs N Judd BAppSc Mrs N Mason BComm (Accounting/Law) Ballarat CPA Ms L McCracken Mrs H McIntosh Ms S McLean BS, GCIT Mr S Memon BComm, CPA Mrs J Norman DippAppSci (Ag) VCAH Mrs L Pearce Mrs M Polkinghorne Mrs C Prendergast AdvDipMgt, CertIVBusAdmin Mrs M Pullin BA Melbourne, MA RMIT, ASDA AMEB Miss J Rodda BComp Ballarat Mrs F Ryall BPsych (Ballarat), DipHRMgt (Ballarat) MAHRI (Member Australian HR Institute) Mrs P Reinehr Mr J Smith BComm, CPA Mrs D Squire Ms D Stephen DipFinMkt (SIA), CertMktg Swinburne Mrs T Varnis Mrs A Verstage B Comm Ballarat, CPA Mrs G White CertIVFoodTech, CertOH&S Mrs M Williams Ms A Young BAcct, MPA Mrs L Yu BComm (Marketing/Accounting), MBA, CPA Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts Mrs Sue Hyde (Centre Manager) Ms C Heenan Cleaning, Catering & Operations Operations Manager Mr W Dunn CertIVOHS Mr P Van Styn, Mr N Morcombe, Mr B Van Styn, Mr R Van Styn, Mr D White, Mr A Gibson, Mr J Hoskin, Mr M Hay, Mr I Bilston, Mr T Pierce, Shane Daly, Mr C Perkins, Mr O Warwick, Mr R Polkinghorne, Mr A Bedggood, Mr D Gilbert, Ms R Foote, Mr D White, Mr C Perkins, Mr R Allen, Mr T Pierce, Roderick (Rod) Baxter, Justine Berg, Peter Bogert, Janice Carroll, Joshua Davis, Shane Gray, Deborah Gaylor, Stuart Gibbs, Terry Hoare, Rob Knowles, Yusron Sons, Louise Robertson, Michael Wilson, Andrea Weston, Vicky Benson, Brian Madden, Daniel Van Styn, Colleen Millar, George Golder, Marlene McKaw, Garry Williams, Shane Daly, William Brown, Lachlan Warwick, Mick Zala, Ange Litris, David Cuff, Marita Williams Dining Hall - Canteen Mr A Secker (LAPG) - Chef ICT Mr M Blackman Ms Tayla Curran Mr T Eaton Mr S P McDonnell CertIVTech (CCTAFE) VIDCAM operation (ASF&TV) Mr J D Mills DipIT (Ballarat) Mr A Swendson

Health Centre Staff Mrs J Fullerton BN Child (UoS, UK) Paediatric RN Mrs B Ludbrook RN (Ballarat) RPN (Royal Children’s) CertIV (TAE)(MGB) GradCertAnaphylaxisMgtTraining Mrs D Pitson RN(Prince Henry’s) Midwifery (Box Hill) GradCertOnc&PalliativeCare Mrs M J Wilson RN (Royal Melbourne Hospital) RM (Ballarat) Grad Cert Allergy & Anaphylaxis Management (University Of South Australia) Dr M Rayner, BSc (VU) Hons(VU), PhD (Swinburne), MAPS. Mr M P Davis BA (Fed Uni) GDipPsych (Monash) MPsych (Monash) Ms L Dean BA BSocial Sciences (Pyschology) DipEd MPsych School Shop Mrs N Kulinski Mrs B O’Dwyer Archives Mrs N Squire BSc (Melb) TSTC Dr R Squire DipFor (Cres) BScFor (Melb) MScFor (Melb) PhD (Melb) (Botany) Teacher Assistants Ms Laura Brown Cert III General Education Cert Ed Support (Monash) DipAuslan Mrs S Doust BEd, BA, LPAB Law Sydney University, Diploma of Accounting, CertIII&IVFitPerTraining Cert1111&IV WT&A, DipPolicingPublicSafety Ms T Harris LISTD (London) CICB Licentiate CBA – CICB (Life Member) Mrs J Lacy DipChild Services, DipCounselling (Estrada College) DipChildren's Services CertIIIChildren's Services, CertProfessional Learning engagement, CertI Integration support, CertII advanced skills in integration support, CertIII Literacy and Numeracy Integration support, Cert in Key Word Signing Mrs A Pougnault Ms J Powell CertIIIEdSupport Mrs F Preston Mrs S Rinaldi CertIIIEdSupport Ms T Shillito CertIIIEdSupport Ms M Strugnell Mrs J Treloar AdvCertHospStud (WAC) CertIntDes (RMIT) Mrs K Widdison CertIIIEdSupport CertIVA&WT DipArts (VCA) Mrs Kim Forbes – BA, DipEd, CertIV(TAE), CertIIIBusiness Library Mrs H Barton AdvDipLib/InfoServices (Ballarat) Mrs G McMullin BAppSc (OT) GradDipErg Science Ms A Howse CertAppSc (AnimalTech) (Footscray IT) CertIVBus CertTextileTech (Melb) Mrs M Polkinghorne Art Ms M Cruise Mr R Hetherington SUMTechTeach Ms M Briody Physical Education/Sport Mr L Cassidy Mr J Pritchard Rowing Head of Rowing Mr S Pullin Ms K Lanyon

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Mt Rowan Farm Mr R Mills Cert 3 Ed Support BAgSci (Oneolgy) Languages Dr Alastair Hurst BA (Hons) (UNSW) DipEd (UNSW) M ès L (Paris) DU (Montpellier) Mr F Xue Bachelor of Commerce (Deakin) MEd (Monash) Staff on Leave during 2021 Rebecca Fisher (2021) Mrs S Hinchliffe (2021) Mrs C Shaw (2021) Mr R Bade (Term 1 and 2) Mr A McKnight (Term 3 and 4) Mr M Elshaug (Term 3 and 4) Mrs M Cornell-Smith (Term 1) Ms A Devlin (Parental Leave) Mrs L Morcombe (Term 2-4)

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING Our 2021 professional learning program began on our January Staff days with a focus on both Wellbeing, and Teaching and Learning. We were delighted to be joined by Chris Harte, an educational consultant who has Design Thinking in all of his work and has worked with a range of schools and organisations with a focus on Student Agency: Voice, Choice and Responsibility. This key-note presentation was followed by a workshop that looked at strategies to promote and support agency. With this inspiration from Chris Harte, staff then worked together in their Professional Growth Program (PGP) groups to begin the first stage of the action research projects that underpin the PGP. Day 2 of the Staff Days was a focus on staff and student wellbeing. Dr Meredith Rayner provided a keynote presentation The Ways of Wellbeing. This was followed up with workshops led by Meredith and the School’s Wellbeing Team.

Once again, our professional learning program was impacted due to the interruptions of lockdowns and learning at home.

As we embraced the challenges and opportunities of Learning at Home, our focus turned to synchronous and asynchronous learning. As in 2020, our professional learning moved towards adopting practices to support the wellbeing, and hence the best possible learning strategies, for our students. In spite of another year of challenges due to Covid, we managed to draw conclusions from our action research projects which culminated in an afternoon where all groups presented their findings to each other in a small group setting.

Having successfully navigated another year of pandemic challenges, we look forward to utilising all we learned from our actions research projects in 2021 to continue to evolve and strengthen our teaching and pedagogical practices in 2022.

Adele Ryan Assistant Head, Teaching Learning and Innovation

CURRICULUM In 2021 the Curriculum Innovation and Assessment Committee (CIAC) continued its work in curriculum development and design.

Membership of the CIAC (Curriculum Innovation and Assessment Committee) The CIAC is comprised of the Chairs of Faculties Mr Alan Beech, Chair of Art & Design; Mr Alan Pitson, Chair of Commerce; Mrs Kate Brady, Chair of English; Mr Ian Reithoff, Chair of Humanities; Mr Frank Apostoli, Head of ICT; Ms Yvonne Chatterton, Chair of LOTE; Mrs Delwyn Oliver, Chair of Mathematics; Mr Andrew Dale, Chair of Performing Arts; Ms Shenai Dix, Chair of Physical Education and Health; Mr Keith Romanis, Chair of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics; Mrs Laura Bramble, Chair of Science; Ms Priscilla Herington, Applied Learning Coordinator; Ms Adele Ryan, Assistant Head of Senior School Teaching and Learning; Ms Hannah Wise, Assistant Head of Middle School Teaching and Learning.

Advisors to CIAC: Ms Melissa Dunley, Senior Librarian; and Mr Nathan Hargreaves, Head of Innovation and Learning Technologies.

Members of the CIAC meet fortnightly to discuss curriculum development, assessment and reporting matters.

PAT Online Testing 2021 marks six years of Ballarat Grammar recording PAT data and staff have been able to use this data to assist in the development of numeracy and literacy strategies to assist learning and teaching across the school. Our Mathematics and English Faculties staff have addressed this longitudinal data and have developed strategies to address our curricula, looking for ways to improve practice. From 2022, we will run two windows of PAT testing – at the start and the end of the academic year – in order to better map student progress across the year. We will also introduce the PAT Adaptive General Ability Test (AGAT) as an additional indicator of a student’s cognitive ability.

Middle and Senior School Subject Selections Documentation that relates to Subject Selections has been viewed through Nexus this year, with information sessions conducted via live stream. These were extremely successful, not just because families could watch them from the comfort of their own home, but because they offered equal access to both day student and boarding student families alike. Chairs of Faculty put together subject information videos alongside curriculum information, allowing students to consider the whole range of subject offerings and to make truly informed decisions. Web Preferences, the webbased subject selection app, is housed in Nexus, hence providing a single-point access for all subject selections. From 2022, all Year 10 students are encouraged to study a VCE or VET subject so that they are better prepared for the expectations of VCE study in Year 12.

Nexus Reporting Nexus has been used for school communications for the last four years. In 2021, all staff in the Middle and Senior Schools have entered all summative assessment grades, as well as summative and formative feedback, into Nexus. Parents and students can see assessment results, uploaded by faculty staff, which is timely and specific. Based on the recommendations of Professor John Hattie of the Melbourne University Research Institute, such feedback aims to provide an indication of what the student has achieved as well as “next steps” for improvement. This change in culture has

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been incredibly useful for staff and has provided for powerful conversations between staff and students.

Online Learning Due to Covid-19, the School had to again transition to an online learning program for the duration of the lockdown periods.

Faculties across the Middle and Senior Schools put together an outstanding educational experience for our students, which consisted of a diverse range of lesson types: live lessons conducted via Zoom, screencasts for self-paced learning, and structured independent study. The robust nature of Learning at Home allowed students to not only make excellent progress during online learning, but also make the transition back into face-to-face lessons in Term 4 with relative ease. This was especially important for our Year 12 students, who had to cope with severe disruption to their VCE studies for the second year in succession. Our Faculties are now embedding the most successful aspects of online learning, such as weekly outlines with all resources hyperlinked for ease of access, to improve teaching and learning for 2022.

John Lee Director of Curriculum

CHAPEL OF ST MARK In the weekly Chapel Services: two for the Junior School, three for the Middle/Senior School and one for the Boarders on a Sunday evening, and in special liturgies and eucharists, a diverse range of voices have added to the rich spiritual offerings of the school. Mr Leigh Askew (organist), Ms Trish Dulude (choral director) and Ms Jane Nice (accompanist) have added musical gifts and leadership.

The Right Reverend Garry Weatherill, our Bishop has headed the great support shown by the Diocese towards the school and the Chapel of St Mark in particular, with celebration of the Eucharist and preaching from Rev Michael O’Brien, Rev Graham Reynolds, Mr Keith Romanis, Ms Laura Bramble, Ms Jocelyn Williams, Ms Fiona Whitehouse, members of the student Round Square Committee and Madeline Unmack from Year 11 Manifold.

Many thanks to the Year 3 and 6 Class teachers, the House Chapel Captains and the Heads of House for organising a wonderful list of readers, intercessors, cross-bearers and candle-bearers throughout 2021. As much of this year has been either learning at home or a hybrid, thanks must also go to the ICT team led by Mr Nathan Hargraves and Mr Steve McDonnell for helping the Chapel of St Mark go “live”.

The Chapel continues to be a place of refuge, learning, challenge, inspiration and stillness.

Keith Romanis Acting Senior Chaplain

WELLBEING The importance of solid foundations is never more evident than in times of trial. 2021 was again a challenging year with the global spread of COVID-19 resulting in periods of lockdown for schools and communities. At Ballarat Grammar, the foundations of Positive Education and Whole School Wellbeing, built over many years, meant our staff and students were able to draw on existing skills and knowledge to face the challenges.

Our expertise in Wellbeing and Positive Education continued to be evident in all areas of our broader community over the year from modifications to the online curriculum to include more Positive Education and Wellbeing education for students, to psychological self-care, parenting and mental health videos and information for our whole community. The essential work of providing targeted support our most vulnerable students, staff and families continued and was even more necessary during the isolation periods of 2021.

We continued to provide individual wellbeing support across our school as well as contributing expert advice to external organisations (including Royal Children’s Hospital and Parenting Research Centre) for webinars and resources on child, adolescent and parent wellbeing during COVID lockdowns.

The benefits of a whole-school focus on Wellbeing over many years have been obvious, not only in the way staff and students were able to draw on their existing skills and knowledge to support themselves, but also in the way the key elements of our Wellbeing program, such as gratitude, compassion and kindness, quickly became the focus and we looked outwards to help others and connect, rather than inwards. In this second pandemic year we recognised our community needed a simple way to look after their wellbeing.

We launched the new ‘The Six Ways of Wellbeing’ for staff and student wellbeing, based on current research, identifying a number of simple things to improve mood, reduce the risk of depression, strengthen relationships, keep us healthy and even add years to our lives. The “six ways” model targets connecting, moving, caring, learning, giving, and noticing.

Several other programs were developed or modified to be delivered online and in person.

In person presentations:  Andrew Fuller (Clinical Psychologist) presentation ‘An insight into the adolescent brain and strategies to support young people to thrive’. This was presented to Year 9 students, staff, and the entire school parent community.  Mental Health First Aid to staff across all sections of the school.  A Positive Approach to Managing Child Behaviour – a parenting program delivered to CEEd parents.

Online presentations:  Webinars presented by our wellbeing team of psychologists/ counsellors.  Helping your children through the emotional roller-coaster.  VCE student–parent support.  Managing anxiety in your family.  Tuning into Teens – to help Middle School parents teach their children emotional regulation skills, with over 500 families involved.

While our expertise in Positive Education and Wellbeing served us all well in 2021, we are also conscious of not being complacent.

There is much that continues to be reviewed, researched, reflected upon and developed, as we seek to provide the best environment for all in our community to flourish.

Dr Meredith Rayner Director of Care

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BOARDING

CAREERS

We have completed another year of boarding through a pandemic.

Whilst we departed last year with aspirations of a return to normality, we soon found out that COVID-19 wasn’t quite done with us yet. And whilst it is easy to lament the time together that was lost and the events that were inevitably postponed or cancelled, in many ways, the year of being further apart than we ever wanted to be, brought with it an appreciation of what we all gain when we are close together.

After twenty-one years at Ballarat Grammar, (and twenty-five years as a Careers Practitioner) Karin Miller retired at the end of 2020.

Karin’s contribution to careers education has been outstanding and she held several external voluntary roles championing regional students and regional careers educators. Karin led the development of the Ballarat Careers Expo from a series of small presentations to become a must-do event for students and parents throughout Ballarat and Western Victoria. Karin was recognised in late 2020 by the Careers Education Association of Victoria with the most prestigious CEAV ‘Ruth Chapman’ Award for Excellence.

The start of Term 4 was the point where the constant ‘yoyoing’ of time at home punctuated by brief stints at school finally stopped.

As we emerged yet again from the COVID cave, there was a renewed optimism of a return to normality; this being so capably led by our Year 12 cohort. These leaders were exceptional; every single one of them. They worked tirelessly to cram in the product of the many cultural experiences that were missed throughout time at home.

These young people, who had missed so much of the last 18 months of their own boarding experience, were able to lead the charge in the great cultural rebound, leaving our Year 11 leaders with a reinvigorated focus for what boarding can be like at its best.

All of this occurred with the backdrop of building works throughout our community. As we were rebuilding and reconnecting, out of the ground rapidly rose the new wings of both Wigan and Woodbridge, along with the Dart Bike Shed. If this wasn’t enough, the Dining Hall expansion works also commenced. All of this results in boarding students returning in Semester 1 with better facilities and more support in place than ever before. This will be essential as we learn and grow through our collective COVID-19 experiences. Aside from the demands and challenges that have come along with COVID-19, so also has come opportunities for us to innovate and find new and creative ways of ‘doing’ boarding.

We say goodbye to a number of important leaders within our boarding community at the end of 2021. Brendon Gilbert, after five years as the head of Wigan House, leaves us for new horizons and opportunities as the next Director of Boarding at Saint Patrick’s College, Ballarat. Meredith Rayner also departs after four years as the Head of Larritt House, and we are fortunate that she will continue to play an important role in the wellbeing of our students as they return from COVID restrictions. We retain most of our boarding staff in 2022 for which I am very thankful. These individuals will be instrumental in the work that will go into 2022 and all the excitement and challenges that it will bring.

As the lights go out on yet another year in boarding, we go into the summer break with a great deal of gratitude. We are blessed with the students and their families who continue to provide such strong support and advocacy for our community. 2022 will no doubt comewith its challenges, but if the last 18 months serve as an example of anything, it is the importance of connection, community and culture when facing adversity. These will be our pillars next year as we all return to boarding together again, as one community.

Mr Chris Van Styn Director of Boarding

After farewelling Karin at the end of the year, we welcomed Steph Baulch to the Careers team. Steph’s experience with Morrisby profiling and her time at Hopetoun P-12 College made her a valuable addition to the Careers team. We also farewelled Donna Stephen (Administration) in mid-2021 and Kathryn Quinlan joined the careers team on a casual basis in Term 4.

The Careers Centre hosted the inaugural Old Grammarian Careers Breakfast in April, where OGs and members of the extended Grammar family shared their career journeys in the diverse Health industry. Over 100 students listened to presenters discuss job roles such as midwifery, paramedicine, and psychology.

Scattered throughout the year, we were fortunate to host the iCanMED UCAT (Undergraduate Medical Admission Test) preparation session for aspiring medical students, the University of New England, International House (a University of Melbourne residential college), and Murrup Barak Indigenous Development Institute also from Melbourne University. Year 12s visited Federation University for the annual TIS information session.

A week-long City Cite visit for our Year 10s focussing on careers was a highlight of Term 2. Students were exposed to several innercity experiences including a visit to Melbourne University and tours of residential colleges. Guest speakers included a number of (young) OGs who spoke about the transition from school to tertiary studies, living independently and managing study, part-time jobs and other commitments. A highlight of the week was the presentation from OG, Patti Kinnersly, CEO of Our Watch who spoke not only of her career path but the values that were instilled in her as a boarder at Ballarat Grammar.

In Term 3, Work Experience for Year 10s very nearly got off the ground, but our Year 11s undertook a very successful week in late November. 182 students spent their Work Experience week in many industries, with a large number gaining part-time employment from their time in the workplace. In December, our senior students keenly took up opportunities to upskill in RSA and First Aid training, adding work-ready credentials to their career portfolios.

Even in a year of further lockdowns, Ballarat Grammar students were well serviced in career advice and preparation.

Jill Coote Head of Department, Careers

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

SENIOR LIBRARY AND JUNIOR INQUIRY CENTRE

•

2020 looked very different for the Senior Library and the Junior Inquiry Centre.

•

Lockdown happened very quickly, but we were able to immediately ensure that our students and families were well-stocked with as many books as our students could carry out of campus!

•

Additionally, both facilities offered a successful ‘Click and Collect’ option where families were able to collect books from school in an COVID-safe manner. This program proved popular with our day students and we also provided our Boarding families with books via the post, ensuring they had the same level of access to our collections.

Our libraries lent out an estimated 37,000 loans! This is indicative of the value and support from our staff, students and families, with a strong commitment to a reading culture at Ballarat Grammar. Our students utilised the E and Audiobook platforms, which are easily accessible from Nexus or an easy-to-use mobile app.

2020 also launched the Instagram site @BGLibraries, to offer a social media presence to our community. It has been well-received, providing a diverse and eclectic range of resources.

• • • • • • • •

We are grateful that our libraries are so valued and have an important place in our academic curriculum.

Melissa Dunley – Head of Library Gwen McMullin – Learning Resources Manager

HEALTH CENTRE The Ballarat Grammar Health Centre is a busy service providing holistic care for the Grammar community across the CEEd, Junior School, Mt Rowan Campus, Senior School, Boarding houses and staff. The provision of first aid, health promotion, medical care and student/ staff well-being remain the core objective of the Health Centre. The Centre is staffed by part-time Registered Nurses; Jess Fullerton, Brenda Ludbrook, Debra Pitson and Mandy Wilson.

The Nurses continue to work closely in conjunction with the school’s three part-time Psychologists; Matt Davis, Larelle Dean and Meredith Rayner.

This was again a challenging year putting health and wellbeing at the forefront of the community’s mind as we faced COVID-19. The Health Centre’s responsibilities significant increased as expected due the global pandemic. Achievements include: •

Managing student medical conditions across the Junior, Middle and Senior School including the management and action plans for more than 50 Anaphylaxic students, some Diabetic students, and more than 170 Asthmatic students to comply with the Department of Education requirements. We also manage a significant number of students with allergies and other complexed medical and emotional needs.

• •

•

Commencing 24/7 medical support, being on-call for boarding students over two campuses, for students unwell with COVIDlike symptoms having to be nursed in isolation until collected by a parent.

Performing health checks and temperature checks for students attending school through State lockdowns including CEEd, Junior and Middle/Senior School.

Conducting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) education and providing support for cleaning and operation staff Performing onsite asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for all boarders on their return to face-to-face learning in Term 3 Organising and facilitating ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 testing for GAP students and boarders Following PPE and isolation practices for day and boarding students presenting with COVID-like symptoms Making changes to processes to incorporate evolving COVID safe practices Liaising with DHHS to assess Ballarat Grammar’s COVID practices for a Boarding School Organised and facilitated vaccines for students and staffboth for those on the Victorian School Schedule and additional Influenza vaccines.

Facilitating boarder’s attendance to doctor’s appointments and referral to health professionals and medical specialists Attending and being active members of: Students on the Radar in Junior and Senior School OHS Committee Outbreak management team Staff wellbeing team Victorian School Nurses Association – virtual meeting each term Australian Boarding School Association – virtual meetings with Boarding School Nurses across country Contacting all parents to update all students’ medical details.

Providing health promotion/education for students including: Sex Education support for Year 9 Assisting Year 8 Health Classes, facilitating hands on training for students on CPR and Party First Aid. Hand hygiene demonstrations to boarders Maintaining professional development of our Nurses.

Jess Fullerton Health Centre Manager

ADMISSIONS Despite interruptions to normal enrolment processes again during the 2021 school year due to COVID-19, enrolment interest across all areas remained extremely positive. The School has seen an increase in enrolments to around 1800 students at the end of 2021 from 1755 students in 2020. The CEEd, Junior School and Middle/ Senior Schools all showed increased student numbers from 2020 levels. Boarding enrolments also remained strong, with an increase over the previous year. Significant points of note:  The impressive programs offered at the CEEd continue to be a significant point of interest to families. Continued growth is evident in the number of CEEd 4YO students enrolling in Prep in the Junior School; the Early Acceptance Program for future Prep places has proven to be very popular.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

•

Strong levels of interest in the Junior School reflect the continuing impact of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and the unique learning opportunities of the Year 4 program at the Mount Rowan Farm Campus. Waiting lists are now common at most year levels.

•

Middle/Senior School enrolments remain strong. An additional Year 8 class was added to accommodate growth in boarding numbers.

•

The School remains highly regarded amongst country families across Western Victoria, the South West, Wimmera/Mallee, North Central Victoria and Southern NSW. Interest from these regions for boarding places is particularly strong.

•

Government restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated new approaches to inquiry and enrolment processes. The Admissions Team continued to renew online or virtual experiences for interested families: Open Days, School Tours and Information Events with online virtual Tours and Open Day videos and interviews. This ensured a consistent and active focus on capturing the enrolment interest from both local families and those relocating to Ballarat. Enrolment interest across all areas remained very positive.

Interest in a Ballarat Grammar education continues to be very strong and the School is excited about the strength of its future enrolments.

Bruce Pipkorn Director, Admissions

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ARCHIVES Working from home with occasional visits to the School in accord with Government COVID -19 regulations, enabled provision of a significant amount of administrative support, mounting of Museum displays, and cataloguing, research and storage.

Butler Archives Centre (BAC) and the John H. D. Roberts Museum This integrated facility continues to function very well.

Accommodation for the Collection The BAC in the Centennial Wing is ideal and will remain so for many years. Additional storage space for seven Planex cabinets, etc. is in use at 15 Rossio Grove. The process of evaluating, prioritising and cataloguing those items, necessarily in a ‘macro”, though searchable, way has begun.

Student Involvement It has not been possible to involve classes during 2021. The changing Museum displays continue to engage students and staff, generating positive feedback. An album of relevant photographs and other material was assembled and loaned as a resource for teachers of the three Prep classes.

Requests, Service and Administrative Support Queries and diverse requests continue to be received from the School community and beyond. Research is undertaken using the historical collection and, if necessary, other sources. The Old Grammarians’ Association requested a list of Honorary Old Grammarians of CEGS, CEGGS and the current School. This necessitated trawling through Minute Books covering more than a century to produce the names of 26 unequivocal Hon. OGs! Careful research is undertaken and findings reported accurately – the integrity of the information is of fundamental importance.

Displays From time to time, displays are prompted by events e.g. the Olympic Games. The thrill of the Gold Medal for Lucy Stephan (2009) lead to the creation of a display in the John H. D. Roberts Museum featuring Lucy, our only medallist, and provided an opportune time to consolidate the information for 11 past students, “Grammar Olympians”, and to celebrate them. Other displays included past whole school photographs, hats and caps, domestic items including school crested crockery, and memorabilia from 1920.

Four separate displays were mounted for the fourth Gala Reunion, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 peer year groups on April 17, postponed from 2020.

Historical Collection Policy The policy remains unchanged.

Professional Development The School is an Institutional Member of the Australian Society of Archivists (ASA) and affiliated with the ASA Victorian School Archives Special Interest Group (SIG) normally meeting once each term. Zoom meetings have taken place in 2021 and email contact maintained.

Capital Expenditure Digitisation by GRACE Records Management of the rolls of CEGS and CEGGS, all of the Schools’ Magazines, the full set of Boomalackas, the published Annual Reports and School histories took place early in 2021. This initiative is proving to be of great benefit. Also, funding was provided for a fourth display cabinet for the Museum.

Provision of administrative support continues to be important e.g. the development of the Chronicle for the School’s Life Governors, proof reading, writing notices, checking of records and the Plaques Project.

Nola and Ross Squire School Archivists

Attractive new Honour Boards for School Captains, recipients of Dux of School Awards, and Kostas Rind Awardees are finally on display in the Centennial Wing.

CENTRE FOR EARLY EDUCATION

Boomalacka and Publications The two 2021 issues of Boomalacka involved writing the Archives sections, researching and supplying photographs and material as required elsewhere and, finally, editing and proof reading.

Proof reading The Grammarian 2020, too, was a significant task.

Development Office Assisting the Development Office, Travis Polkinghorne, Claire Hay and, more recently, her replacement, Gemma Kelly, continues to be of great importance.

Donations A further 25 diverse donations, many of which included multiple items, have been processed and acknowledged.

Cataloguing The cataloguing work continues with 232 catalogue worksheets and data entries completed. Many cover multiple items under one number: objects, 152 entries covering 277 items; audio visuals, 80 entries covering 317 items, mostly photographs.

I don’t think that any of us entered this year expecting to encounter the same challenges that we faced locally and further afield in 2020. Having restrictions ease for the Christmas/New Year period, we were looking forward with enthusiasm and hope for an uninterrupted year of sharing our days together and exploring the many possibilities of learning with, and from one another. COVID-19 has been a difficult time for everyone, and whilst we all hoped it would be a story of the distant past, the reality is that it has continued to test us.

Program enrolments In 2021, the CEEd offered early childhood education and care programs for 188 children from 161 families.

Kindergarten and Reception program enrolments were the highest that we have experienced to date in the CEEd, and the Infant & Toddler Programs were fully utilised with an extensive waiting list.

In addition, the extended care programs (Before Care, Aftercare and Holiday Club) were increasingly sought after with all programs running at capacity.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

We observed strong interest in our programs throughout the year, with 134 new applications for enrolment (current at 16/11/2021) processed. The same amount as 2020 with a couple of weeks to the comparative period of 02/12/2020.

Prospective families had access to a Virtual Tour which provided a sample of our programs, in lieu of not being allowed to visit in person during 2020.

CEEd Staffing 42 educators were employed at the CEEd in 2021. This number included full-time, part-time, casual relief educators and educators on Parental Leave.

We welcomed back Emma Northcott, Gina May and Sarah Wilson from Parental Leave at the start of the year. We farewelled longserving staff member James Betts, Lisa Baker and Monique Forrest, and Eloise Kuhle, Laura Morcombe, Anneliese Swan, Gina May and Amelia Hickmott went on Parental Leave at varying stages during the year, and we had Simone Corbett, Pawn Kaur, Kayleigh Mrowiec, Emily Quinlan, Thalia Tatchell, and Rebecca Walker join our team.

CEEd Overarching Goal As a team this year we turned our collective gaze to the following goal: Why we do what we do: Embedding the values that underpin our work with children, families, colleagues and other professionals.

This notion, of peeling away the layers of why we do what we do, focusing on our personal and core organisational values, and making decisions using an ethical lens, grounded us and provided us with a common place and an opportunity to take stock of what really matters, amongst the ongoing tumult.

Staff Professional Learning Our annual CEEd Staff Day took place on Saturday 27 February via Zoom with guest speaker early childhood consultant, Catharine Hydon. Catharine set the tone for our discussions throughout this year related to the principles of the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics. She inspired and challenged us; providing ideas to put into practice immediately, and others to tease out, discuss, debate and contextualize over the course of the year.

Whole CEEd Staff Meetings, Collaborative Meetings and Department Meetings were conducted successfully via Zoom and onsite when Government restrictions permitted.

Parent Teacher Conversations and Interviews Our mid-year Parent Teacher Conversations and November Interviews for new families also took place via Zoom, rather than face-to-face.

Dual Learning Program Although the CEEd remained open for children and families during multiple lockdowns in 2021, we experienced a significant reduction in attendance in Term Three when case numbers increased significantly in Ballarat, and we went into a snap lockdown in the local government area.

We offered a Dual Learning Program providing both onsite, face-toface learning and ‘Learning at Home’ in an online environment, concurrently. Our dual learning offerings were posted to Seesaw and included a weekly activity and a daily mindful moment. A Parent Toolbox was also developed to assist families and to ensure that child/ren learning remotely could stay connected during lockdown.

This resource was designed to be drawn upon at any time and was accessed through the CEEd Nexus Home Page.

Responding to children’s needs and supporting behaviour Although, the CEEd remained open during the multiple lockdowns this year, the true impact of last year, has been felt by all in our community, all whilst trying to manage a resurgence of case numbers, tighter restrictions, and additional layers of complexity.

During these times of uncertainty and challenge we were fortunate to be able to draw on our connections with the wider School Community. Kate Richardson and Kat O’Dwyer from the Wellbeing Team presented ‘Coping with COVID and raising young children’ sharing their expertise with educators and families. They discussed the impacts of the pandemic on children aged 0-5 years and how to talk to young children about COVID, whilst tuning into emotions and encouraging desirable behaviour.

Children are the greatest observers, they learn through imitation, and they are constantly watching and learning from us about their world, feelings and behaviours. For children 0-5 years this behaviour includes anger, worry, sadness and attachment-seeking behaviours.

With children attending the CEEd, learning from home, or moving between the two, many of the children had difficulty adjusting to routines and separating from caregivers. Observations of children’s play throughout the year saw children make QR codes for the home corner, apply hand sanitiser, and asking others to do the same, in dramatic play and make masks using creative mediums. Their play reflects their lived experience.

Special Events, Transition and Orientation Each year is normally very busy, with all groups enjoying a plethora of special experiences within their programs and beyond. Some of these events were able to take place whilst we had to look at alternative ways to deliver other events when we were not able to come together. The year has unfolded differently to what we had hoped or what we are all accustomed to, due to the roadmap outlined by the Victorian Government and the ongoing restrictions but we ensured that our days together were no less enjoyable or memorable.

Bush Kinder and Bushlings Our Bush Kinder and Bushlings Programs were permissible by the Department of Education and Training in the different stages of lockdown and were able to remain in operation. Whilst we are all aware of the significant and far-reaching benefits of outdoor play, this time in nature continued to be a haven and space that fortified the physical and mental health and wellbeing of children and staff throughout the pandemic.

Koren Naylor – Director, Centre for Early Education

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JUNIOR SCHOOL

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Whilst 2021 did not turn out the way we wanted, with many hoping the new year would leave COVID-19 in its wake, our community once again worked together supporting each other and doing the best we could as we adjusted to ever changing regulations and requirements. We continued to adapt our learning programs at short notice and work with our community to meet the varying needs of our families.

‘Ballarat Grammar doesn’t try to make you something you are not; rather, it enables you to unearth your passion and pursue it, becoming your best self.’

-Lucy Stephan OG and Olympic Gold medallist

From adversity new ideas emerged. Our Year 6s again moved the PYP Exhibition to a virtual platform and we also managed to squeeze our reimagined Production and the JEEP trip into the schedule. Many students were still able to participate in camps, excursions and other activities, but we do acknowledge that this was not possible for all students.

At the start of the year we welcomed Donna Hanneysee, Thomas Gribble and Alex Curran to the teaching staff, and Sarah Brown and Kirstin Grech to the Junior School reception team. We welcomed back Maria Cahir and Helen Trotter from periods of leave. During the year Elizabeth Le Marshall, Ava Kennedy, Deirdre O’Donnell, David Nevins and Edward Higgs all welcomed new additions to their families with Shane Woodrow also taking long service leave. We thank Hayley Marin, Terry Lia and Tanya Williamson who assisted with coverage during this time.

At the end of 2021 we farewelled Glenis Zala from the School after thirty-two years of dedicated service to the school. Her work in the classroom has been exceptional as has her work for the annual Junior School Production. Amanda Binion and Nicola van Berkel also departed after lengthy commitment to the School. Edward Higgs, Michaela Strugnell and Raewyn Montgomery also left for new adventures and we wish them well, knowing they will be missed in our community.

Our new Art Studio was opened at the beginning of the year.

Throughout the year the new activity play space created a buzz of excitement, as did those watching on at the construction site of the Year 5 & 6 Centre.

I finish as always by expressing my gratitude to everyone involved in making the learning opportunities available for our students this year. It has again been a tough road to navigate, but our community has banded together, and we have made it to the end of 2021. With the summer holidays upon us, we hope that 2022 will be what we hoped of 2021, with the freedom to socialise and attend school. We also recognise the amazing amount of work undertaken by the School staff to ensure that learning was able to continue in a virtual format. We are very lucky to have such inspiring and dedicated staff.

Mr Mark Warwick Deputy Head and Head of Junior School

We had the great pleasure of Olympic Gold medallist and Old Grammarian, Lucy Stephan address our Middle School students at the Middle School Presentation Afternoon in the latter part of the year. Lucy spoke passionately about her schooling experience and her hopes for Middle School students into the future.

Lucy and Ballarat Grammar are similar in that they share the same set of values and system of beliefs. She emplored the students to seek out their passions, try new things and persist when others stop. The last one has certaining been true of our Middle School community this year. Our community has been charactaterised by persistence, gratitude and a sense of hope and unity.

Our staff were determined to provide every possible opportunity to our students this year; especially in the final weeks of Term 4. Every Middle School student had the opportuntiy to attend an Outdoor experience, contribute through service or fundraising to those in need, attend a significent social event and look to their future through either a commencement week experience or a series of leadership activities.

Whilst there have been many challenges this year, our staff and students have risen on each occasion and we are collectively stronger. The attributes of grit and perserverance will be used in other contexts and in different ways as we move into 2022, and we know that our student body has the resilience and tenacity to look at a problem, assess the options and be part of the solution.

Students and staff are now able to work more closely than ever before to advance our community and find success through creativity and innovation.

Our Year 9 leadership program had a meaningful impact on the lives of those in our school community and beyond it. This student driven program focused on delivering engaging, authentic leadership experiences that have seen them develop rich organisational, strategic and collaborative skills.

The Social Innovators program, “Flip the Script” and our ongoing involvement and success in competitions, such as the Peter Doherty Science Awards, provides students with an array of experiences that extend them well beyond the classroom. Our students continue to develop essential skills of literacy and numeracy but then are provided the opportuntiy to harness them in meaningful ways.

Our music program continued to thrive through online lessons and whilst our Year 7s didn’t get the full IMP experience, they still produced a remarkable virtual concert in the final weeks of the school year. Middle School students shone in the single showing of the School’s production, “Matilda” and we look forward to this continuing in the 2022 production.

There was nothing normal about 2021, and I wish to thank all the Middle School staff for their tireless work and unrelenting commitment to the education of each child in their care. It has been a remarkable period that has seen our teaching teams evolve

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

their practices and adapt to the ever changing environment. I am regularly taken aback by the tenacity, commitment and unyielding determination shown by our staff.

Finally, to our students. It could be said that our Middle School students have missed so much, but I would argue that they have grown more than any group before them. They have developed unique skills, shown compassion and gratitude in a way that is often reserved for people more mature. They have, on many occasions, shown us the way.

2021 is a year that will be remembered in varied ways, but it is the year that will have shaped the character of the Middle School for years to come. Our values and beliefs were tested and from this a greater sense of unity and shared purpose arose.

Chris Beechey Deputy Head and Head of Middle School

SENIOR SCHOOL The Guardian theme for 2021 was ‘Be the Lion’, and we needed every bit of courage we could muster as we faced our second year of lockdowns.

With the experience of 2020 fresh in our minds, faculty members immediately reverted to Learning at Home as we built on, and refined all of our discoveries from the previous year. The school student leaders, the Guardians, had no inkling their theme for the year would be so pertinent.

Our teachers provided outstanding pastoral support for students who were physically distant and missing the social aspect of school. Care packages sent to students were as crucial as curriculum packs of learning materials as students grieved the loss of face to face class time and school ground friendships.

Despite the uncertainty and our senior students experiencing two years of interrupted learning due to COVID, our Year 12s achieved outstanding academic results. Our staff ensured all students had a sense of purpose, connection and identity whether we were at school or Learning at Home. Assistant Heads Mrs Sandra Warwick, Ms Adele Ryan, and Mrs Louise Gunn offered outstanding support and ingenuity in their focus areas. Mr John Lee, Director of Curriculum, provided excellent faculty advice as we revised assessment and reporting schedules.

In a year full of challenges, our boarding community drew strength from one another. Director of Boarding, Mr Chris Van Styn, whose leadership of the boarding community was nothing short of remarkable, ensured that buses of boarders crossed state borders without incident. We are indebted to Chris for his commitment to boarding families.

As restrictions reduced usual sport offerings, Mr Dean Rossato Director of Sport created lunchtime game and friendly afterschool matches for students until the interschool competitions could commence. The highlight of the year, however, would be the achievements of the Senior Boys who ‘scooped the pool’ by claiming the Head of the Lake, while the senior boys swimmers clinched the BAS trophy as the volleyballers claimed their fourth straight premiership along with our senior boys’ tennis and senior boys cricket. An outstanding effort.

As restrictions continued in length and severity, House Dinners became House Presentations, live-streamed to families as we celebrated the contribution of the Year 12s to their House and school. The Leavers’ Eucharist became the Seed to Tree Ceremony, where the Prep students gifted a sapling to each Year 12 student, with the blessing of the Bishop of Ballarat.

Presentation Night was reborn as Year 12 Graduation and Awards Ceremony, held under the twilight sky in the Olsten Quad, as we brought the best parts of the Valedictory Dinner and Presentation Night together in a shortened ceremony.

The Senior School Production – Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’, directed by Mr Callan Lewis, opened to a packed and COVID safe auditorium for a single performance, all on the eve of another lockdown.

Audience members enjoyed watching a talented cast, supported by a skilled crew and band bring the production to life.

Our senior students’ connectedness and courage link their learning to life. One of our School Captains encapsulated the character of the Grammar learner during this year that broke the mould when he said, in his Graduation Night speech;

“Like a lion, we have gained the strength to lead and now go bravely in our own direction, to tread our own path, to follow our heart. Our cohort is pretty spectacular to have people looking to play woman’s and men’s AFL, emerging musicians, visual and performing artists, climate change activists, and others looking to become lawyers, doctors, engineers and nurses. Some of us have our lives planned out; others have no clue, which is completely ok. I don’t know what I want to do. In 3-year-old kinder, I told my teacher I wanted to be a cricket bat. While I believe I was trying to say cricket batsman, I am starting to appreciate my 3-year-old thinking. A good cricket bat needs to be durable, reliable, perform well and be part of a team. We can all take these qualities into our future, and I guess the point I am trying to get across is that while your interests will change, your lifestyle will change, and the world will no longer doubt change; never forget your past. As I look around the audience, I see wellrounded Grammarians who will use all their experiences from school to help make the world a better place.”

- James O’Sullivan School Captain 2021 Brianne Cuthbert Head of Senior School

Due to density restrictions, opportunities for service, outdoor education, sport, and performance were limited. However, Ms Adele Ryan, in her role as Leadership and Service Co-ordinator, managed to provide students with rewarding opportunities. The Smith Family reading program, student2student, which could be delivered over Zoom, was very popular and the Diversity Homework Club through the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Centre provided additional tutoring opportunities through Zoom.

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ROUND SQUARE Without student exchanges again in 2021, the strength of Round Square at Ballarat Grammar has been found in local events held for the benefit of our wonderful student community. Supported by our Round Square Captains, Iona Cullenward and Charlotte Campbell, and our enthusiastic Round Square Committee, we were able to deliver some very worthwhile Round Square events in another year of rolling lockdowns.

International Women’s Day was our major Round Square Event in Term 1. We hosted Dr Rachel Toovey in the WCPA as our lunchtime guest speaker. Rachel, a leading paediatric physiotherapist and academic, spoke to a captivated audience about diversity, inclusion, acceptance and striving to do our best in adversity. Her messages to our students about questioning traditional models of power were inspiring.

The Round Square Senior School Dance (May 7, Term 2 in the WCPA) was a roaring success. We were fortunate to be able to run this event when COVID-19 restrictions were minimal, meaning that our Senior School students could hit the dancefloor and enjoy beats of Trojan, the Geelong band that rocked the night. This was an uplifting night for our Senior School students at a time when it was needed! $5000 was donated to India’s Covid-19 appeal, whilst the same amount was directed towards the disaster relief effort in Timor Leste. Our week of Round Square Chapel, held later in Term 2, focused on the service-oriented nature of Round Square and shared video messages from former exchange students from around the globe who had visited Ballarat Grammar.

Our Kurt Hahn Sleepout Challenge was held in Term 3 during lockdown. This event showed what the Grammar community is all about. Thirty of our Senior School students listened to Michael Blythe and Kate Dharumasena (2011), from Uniting, discuss homelessness in the Ballarat region on Zoom. These students then slept out for the night, enduring freezing temperatures and noticing that they were tired, cold and hungry the following morning in our debrief. Bedding and other items were donated to Uniting.

The final event of 2021 was Tough Grammar, held on December 7. It was wonderful to see students tackling the course with friends in their house uniforms, embracing a community fundraiser at the conclusion of a challenging school year. Our 2022 Round Square Captains, Indi Berberich and Georgina Mees, showed outstanding leadership in their organisation of this event.

Tim Adams Round Square Co-ordinator

FACULTIES ART AND DESIGN The Middle and Senior School Art and Design program is designed to foster creative learners who can think outside the box. Students begin at Year 7 and start on a learning journey with an emphasis on practice and mastery. They learn vital life skills such as creative and critical thinking as well as technical skills and knowledge. They develop persistence and an ability to critique and receive feedback. They learn to work independently and collaboratively.

Students are encouraged to problem solve and reflect.

The school has a long tradition of supporting creative subjects. Not only do we offer a wide range of studio and workshop subjects, all of our staff are specialists and most are also practising artists or designers. The Beckworth provides a place within the bigger school where students develop a strong sense of community and feel a sense of ownership inspiring creative energy and bringing people together. Much was acheived in 2021, including a virtual exhibition of Senior students VCE work.

The following students were selected for the NEXTGEN exhibition at the Ballarat Art Gallery:  Phoebe Tol – There is no perfection, only beautiful versions of brokenness  Phoebe Tol – If you look for perfection, you'll never be content - WINNER INNOVATION AWARD, NEXTGEN  Jasmine Field – Provincial Roads  Elias Jarvis – Reconciliation?  Elias Jarvis - Lather, Rinse and Repeat  Annabel Muir - Inside  Amelia Greene - A Nature’s Yarn - WINNER CREATIVITY AWARD, NEXTGEN  Lindley Andrews - Rotations  Thomas Mckee - Style Guide for the Adventurer's Guild  Ella Hannon - Hazy  Audrey Martin – Untitled  Oliver Wischer - After Fred  Oliver Wischer - The Wave Alan Beech Chair of Faculty, Art & Design

COMMERCE This past year the staffing of Commerce subjects has included Adam Shaw, Susie Murdoch, Alan Pitson and we welcomed Andrea Maxted and Peter Curry. Both of these teachers taught Legal Studies to replace Denise Parkins who left to teach in South Australia.

Growth in the numbers of students choosing Commerce subjects has been particularly pleasing. Furthermore, across the faculty, we have an even gender balance of students.

This year, given the interruptions to ‘normal’ schooling, has required our staff to adopt a range of additional practices and strategies to maintain student engagement to facilitate Learning

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at Home. During these times of uncertainty for students, the resilience and optimism displayed by the Commerce staff has underpinned the achievements and the focus of our students. The Commerce staff identified, and acted upon, the need to remain connected to our students. Much time was devoted to contacting students on an individual basis to provide support and encouragement as they adjusted to more student-centred learning with more agency.

Throughout the year our team has continued to focus professional learning on literacy development. A specific focus being on improving students’ ability to use connectives more effectively. We targeted this area, as we felt that many students in our cohort struggled with the fluency of writing when responding to extended responses. We adopted explicit teaching of the application of connectives.

Across all subjects, staff members have taken every opportunity to embed current affairs and topical examples in their teaching.

Students participated in the Australian Schools’ Sharemarket Game, with two of our students being ranked in the top four in Victoria.

Commerce Awards: Year 11: Maya Jones Year 12: Ruby Riordan Alan Pitson Chair of Faculty, Commerce

ENGLISH Staffing We welcomed two new staff members to the English faculty in 2021, Ms Sarah Sharp to the Senior English team as well as Mrs Casey Coghlan mid-way through the year into the Middle Years. We wish Mr Luke Pougnault well as he sets out for term of well-earned long service leave Term 1 2022. And, we also farewell and thank Mr Nathanael Lambert and Mr Andrew Conquest for their contributions in their two years at the School.

Teaching and learning The faculty focus for 2021 continued to explore the explicit teaching of vocabulary as a means to improve both reading comprehension and writing. Building upon our exploration of research and best practice in 2020, all year level teams made this their focus for their PGP. Initial data indicates improved writing outcomes for students as well as greater engagement with texts.

managing teams for a term. Fostering greater collective efficacy, the strength of the faculty was evident in all members’ ability to coordinate consistent curriculum, run regular meetings and ensure benchmarking practices were sustained to ensure consistency in feedback and reporting. All while also navigating the disrupted nature of another year of living with Covid 19.

Our VCE staff were once again required to manage students who, after two disrupted years, were particularly vulnerable and often anxious throughout the uncertainties that the year presented. The steady ship that is the Senior English team was up to the task.

Keeping as much regular routine and expectation as possible, it was pleasing to note the student’s determination to make the most of all additional opportunities to gain real time exam experience. Most students sat additional trail examinations both on the weekend and after school, in addition to the formal September Trial exam period run by the School. External VCAA markers feedback Pre-recorded revision lectures were again offered in place of face to face presentations due to restrictions. Throughout the year before school masterclass sessions were run on a Tuesday and Friday morning and taken up by an increasing number of dedicated students. VCE staff continued their commitment to best practice through their role as VCAA markers in English Language, Mainstream English as well as the GAT. Debating and Public Speaking VCAA Plain English Speaking Awards In June of 2021, Year 11 student Hannah Crompton and Year 10 student Perri Eaton competed in the regional finals of the Plain English Speaking Awards. This year, we were able host the regional final event in person and both students are to be commended on their commitment to the public speaking program within the school.

DAV Debating Lead by Mr John Lee and Ms Sarah Sharp Ballarat Grammar hosted the DAV debating competition for our region. While the competition commenced in person, restrictions mean that a shift to an online format was necessary. This year we had five teams entered, two at Year 9 and one at 10, 11, 12. All four year levels qualified for the DAV Playoffs. The Year 10s reached the last-16. Elsie Shaw Year 10, was invited to try out for the state debating team. Penny Young Year 9, won a Swannie award for best Ballarat region speaker. For the first time in many years, we also had Year 8s who competed in the DAV Junior competition. Angela Sun won Best Speaker.

Kate Brady Chair of Faculty, English

Having developed the means and skills to support learning online in the previous year, the faculty were once again required to pivot onto these platforms numerous times through the year. Ably supported in this by the School’s ICT department, staff worked tirelessly to sustain the motivation, engagement and learning progression of our students. NAPLAN data from the year indicates that there was no significant decline in learning progression as a consequence of the disrupted year of 2020 in our Years 7 and 9 students.

With the discontinuation of the role of Middle Years Learning leaders in 2021, all staff in these levels took on the role of coordinating and

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role as VCAA markers in both English Language and mainstream English.

Debating and Public Speaking VCAA Plain English Speaking Awards – In June of 2020, Year 12 student Finley Japp and Year 11 student Tom McKenzie competed in the finals of the Plain English Speaking Awards. This year, like so much of our lives, the competition was conducted online. We congratulated both boys for their commitment to the public speaking program of the School despite the circumstances.

Evatt Voice of Youth – Twelve Ballarat Grammar students competed in the Evatt Voice of Youth Online Competition.

UN Young Leaders Summit – Nine Ballarat Grammar Students participated in the online Young Leaders Summit.

Grammar Speaks Out – As a number of external public speaking competitions were cancelled in 2020, we held an internal Middle Years’ Speaking competition. Students presented a five minute prepared speech followed by a two minute impromptu. A small but enthusiastic number took up the opportunity.

HUMANITIES When life send you unexpectedly challenges, often you are given the opportunity to develop and change in ways that you didn’t expect.

And so was the case in 2021! However, having done it all in 2020 - we knew so much more about what worked in our Learning at Home, and what didn't. The number one thing we learnt was how to be more creative – again!

We learnt how to collaborate more effectively, to allow students more agency in choosing how to approach a task and remembered just how much the Humanities is essential for every student to feel connected to the world and what is going on in it. When we returned to school, the department made a concerted effort to ensure the lessons we learnt from the lockdowns were not lost, and look forward to continuing to be a dynamic and creative group that work together beautifully to make student learning the best it can be.

Hannah Wise Chair of Faculty, Humanities

LANGUAGES The Languages Faculty staff are to be commended on their dedication and professionalism which was highlighted so well throughout 2021. Teachers found innovative ways to engage students from home during the lockdown. The Learning at Home period provided the opportunity for students to explore more of the cultural aspects of language learning. We also commend students for their ongoing commitment and approach to language learning throughout this period.  Middle School Chinese students engaged in cultural projects.

Year 7 students worked on planning a virtual China trip and established basic understanding of Chinese education system by exchanging letters with pen pals from a school in China.

 Year 8 students worked on three cultural projects: one focusing on Chinese park culture, one on Chinese megaprojects where they had to research and then reflect how technology is changing Chinese people’s lifestyle, and one focusing on Chinese ethnic minority groups, supported by preservice teacher Minyu Xu.  Working together with Jacinta Sharry, language teachers supported two cultural events throughout the year: Lunar New Year activities in Term 1, where Jack Yang, a Tai Chi master from Mount Clear College, was invited to demonstrate Tai Chi with the students, also the Mid-Autumn Festival, where students made lanterns and tried Chinese calligraphy.  Middle School French students Celebrated Bastille Day in Term 3. Year 7 students prepared posters and Year 8 students constructed 3D French icons.  Senior School French students focused on the cultural significance of Bastille Day and La Marseillaise.  Year 12 French students continued to work one on one with French tutor, Dr Alastair Hurst.  In Terms 2 and 3, Year 11 French students worked with a volunteer parent, Mme Alexandra Le-Guen Murray, to develop their spoken French.  Year 7 Latin students enjoyed the experience of making theatre masks, emulating as far as possible the ancient design and construction of these. These were used in the short Latin plays in full costume which were performed in classroom settings and filmed.  Year 8 participated in a competition in which groups constructed models of the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria.  Year 9 Latin students made Lead Curse Tablets.  The Latin Reading Competition conducted by The Classical Association of Victoria was not possible this year.  At more senior levels, exploration of international websites for Latin texts was developed such that a strong foundation was laid for independent research at a later point to assist in reading Latin texts.  Ms Celia Lambert and Ms Yvonne Chadderton attended the Classical Association of Victoria Conference in Melbourne in Term 1.  Recipients of the 2021 Languages Faculty Prize are Laura Ferguson (Year 12) and Lola Speer (Year 11).

Staff We welcomed Ms Jun Wang as a Chinese Teacher in the Middle School this year.

We welcomed Mr Frank Xue as our Chinese assistant for 2021.

We welcomed Ms Minyu Xu as a Pre-Service teacher working with Ms Wang for three weeks in Term 4.

Mr Frank Xue, Chinese Assistant, left at the end of 2021 to further develop his career in Commerce.

Ms Celia Lambert, Latin teacher, departed at the end of 2021 to teach Latin at Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology in Brisbane.

We bid farewell to Ms Nancy Wu, Chinese Teacher, who retired at the end of 2021 after 28 years of service.

Yvonne Chadderton Chair of Faculty, Languages

 Year 7 Chinese students have created two story books this year, which include a copy of students’ handwriting and a QR code of students’ recording. These books will become class readers for future students.

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MATHEMATICS STAFF In 2021 we welcomed back Fiona Latrobe after a year of long service leave and inducted Greg Walton and Jean-Paul Trisjburg in to the Maths team while wishing Mat Elshaug well, for his Australian odyssey with his family, in the second half of the year. Sue Garner continued her role at VCAA as the “Curriculum Manager Maths (Coursework) Victoria” as well as Specialist Maths Examination Assessor and Fiona Latrobe was the Assistant Chief Examination Assessor for Further Maths. These roles recognise the contribution, knowledge and capabilities of Sue and Fiona. It is to the benefit of the Ballarat Grammar Maths Faculty and students that the skills and learning that accompany these positions is passed through professional learning opportunities and collaboration.

The Maths Faculty took the second year of Covid restrictions in it’s stride and the teachers built on what they had started in 2019 and improved the delivery of learning and the ability to monitor student progress. Focus for the Middle School classes was to build the independence as strength as a learner in each student positivity, health and well-being were always at the forefront of teacher’s awareness of Senior school students as consistent delivery in key content areas was a focus.

Students The disruptions to face to face learning during 2021 met with varied responses from the students. Some relished the ability to learn at home and be relatively independent in terms of the time spent on different areas while others struggled with motivation and the lack of teachers and peers physically present to offer assistance and support. Nevertheless, the students made progress in their mathematics learning and when face to face learning resumed were enthusiastic and worked incredibly well right to the very last class of the year. Unfortunately the Maths Peer Tutoring was not able to resume on Monday afternoons in second semester due to the Covid restrictions that were enforced to enable leaning at school to continue. We hope that this tutoring program can restart in 2022.

The Australian Maths Competition (AMC) ran across Australia. Four students; Rex Brennan, (Yr7), Hannah Paton (Yr8) and Hilary Sullivan (Yr8) and James Mullins (Yr11) achieved High Distinctions which places these students in the top 10% of students in Victoria. Also an outstanding result was Lachie Bardsley (Yr12) achieving a Distinction in the highly competitive Senior Division. Students from Yr8-11 also completed research projects based on questions posed in the Melbourne University Statistics & Mathematics Research Competition. The final projects were presented in a variety of ways including PowerPoint presentations, posters and formal written reports. The ability of the students to investigate the problem and then explain their findings was exceptional. All projects were submitted to the University for judging. The Yr8 group with Harriet Meakin, Mackaylor Culvenor and Lindy Zhang were awarded a High Commendation for their submission.

In VCE the students completed the full study design in each subject and prepared well for their final examinations in both Unit 1&2 as well as in Unit 3&4. It was pleasing to note that many students from Yr10-12 took the opportunity to attend the Yr10-VCE After school Maths Help sessions as well as morning sessions, once

face to face learning resumed. In the lead up to the examinations the students sought regular assistance and made every effort to do their best. The Maths teaching teams and students worked very well together.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION The second year of the pandemic delivered even more new and unprecendent challenges and required staff, students, and the entire community of Ballarat Grammar to adapt to a dynamic and often unpredictable working environment.

In the field of Outdoor Education, where programs require annual bookings and months of prior planning and preparation, the great unknown of lockdown periods made the facilitation of our Program difficult. We were forced to cancel a number of camps and trips, including Explorations Week due to Government restrictions that were in place at the time. It was equally disappointing that the inaugural Year 9 Extended Journey, a new 15-day program, was also cancelled in 2021.

Our Year 7 students did manage to complete their first camp at Jungai in the Rubicon Valley, proving a valuable introductory experience for them at the commencement to the school year. The Year 10 Alpine camp was also able to go ahead.

Ballarat Grammar’s Outdoor Education programs do not operate without a dedicated approach from teaching and auxiliary staff, who attend and guide our young students through these exciting, yet challenging activities. Staff that attend our programs are to be commended for sacrificing time away from home and from their classes to support these wonderful, character-building experiences.

David Marriott Outdoor Education Co-ordinator

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION Staffing This year we welcomed Kelli Zaal and Chris Jones into the faculty and also celebrated Ross Sullivan’s significant milestone of 40 years of service to the School.

Teaching and Learning Once again 2021 proved to be a tricky year to navigate. With Term 1 remaining relatively normal, we ceased the opportunity to send our Year 10 Physical Education classes off-campus to participate in a range to Target Sports and as a faculty, were creative and intentional with the units we delivered across both Physical Education and Health.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit again, and it was back to Zoom meetings, screencasts, and handing over the autonomy of learning to our students. Within the Middle School, we recognised the importance of student wellbeing and given the unprecedented times and decided to evolve what was formally known as the Mind, Body & Soul project in 2020. This developed into what was known as the Flip the Script program; a student-embraced initiative that

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worked closely with the Crazy Ideas College to focus on wellbeing, innovation, and gratitude. Students also used the Physical Education Smorgasbord of Activities to stay active during the periods of lockdown.

Within the Senior School, our VCE teachers continued to work tirelessly to support our students, particularly those who were anxious throughout the uncertainties that the year presented. We were lucky to have senior students back on campus to finalise content and work on revision in a face-to-face setting with their teachers. This prepared students for a relatively normal examination period, and all were extremely grateful to cross the finish line knowing that they had been granted all opportunities to succeed.

Health and Physical Education Awards: Year 11 – Grace Wareham Year 12 – Abbey Bibby Shenai Dix Chair of Faculty, Health and Physical Education

PERFORMING ARTS – MUSIC, DANCE, DRAMA AND THEATRE STUDIES Ongoing pandemic restrictions meant that many of our regular performances and events were cancelled in 2021; however, amongst the many challenges, we were fortunate to present ‘Grammar in Concert’ in June, and a single public performance of our Senior School Production, ‘Matilda’, in July, to capacity audiences in the WCPA. Both events were a highlight for students, staff and parents, due to the fact they did not occur the previous year. The standard of the School Production was exceptional. Between these two events, more than 300 students in the Middle and Senior School were involved. Additionally, the Unit 3 Theatre Studies Play, ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’, was able to proceed, in person to a live audience.

Many curricular and co-curricular activities were moved online, allowing students and staff to display creativity and adaptability.

Year 8 ‘Take the Stage’ students participated in an online drama festival. The ‘Connections Festival’ seeks to connect students with Indigenous issues in a respectful way, with students devising and filming a 15-minute piece called ‘Get Back To The Land’, which will be screened at the Connections Festival in 2022.

Elena Sabellico and Sarah Barlow were co-presenters at the Drama Victoria Conference in December, promoting the creative and collaborative model they developed to design the ‘Take the Stage’ elective for Middle School. This opportunity allowed them to showcase the innovative cross-disciplinary performing arts practices that are supported by Ballarat Grammar.

Long serving teachers, Glenis Zala (thirty-two years as Junior School Music teacher) and Miriam Kriss (twenty-six years as cello and double bass teacher) finished their tenure with the School at the end of 2021. Glenis will be remembered by thousands of students, particularly, but not only, for her creative drive and direction with the Junior School Production. Apart from teaching Instrumental Music, Miriam Kriss directed the Intermediate Strings in recent years. Miriam will be remembered for her quiet, caring approach and excellent musicianship. Music Administrator Helen McIntosh, and School Accompanist Gwen Kennelly also concluded

their time at the School during the year. Helen has completed three years at the School and has overseen several important administrative changes. Gwen has a longer association, having had four children attend the School. The individual and collective contribution by these staff members over the years has been significant and we thank them all sincerely.

Alex Johnson joined the Faculty as Music Administrator and Edward Roxburgh as Highland drum teacher this year.

Congratulations to the following students who were selected for the VCAA Season of Excellence following their practical performance examinations: Sophia Litras - Top Class Theatre Studies, Juliette Sargent, Eleanor Bodey, and Sophie Walters - Top Class Dance. VCE VET Sound Production student Sami Regague’s work was selected for Top Design and was also successful in winning the Triple J Unearthed All-Ages Tour Competition, allowing him to perform three shows in regional Victoria for the national broadcaster in early 2022. Congratulations also to Johanna Wilson and Lola Speer for their outstanding results in VCE Music Style and Composition and to Millie Holder and Luke Barlow for VCE VET Performance.

Music Captains, Johanna Wilson and Millie Holder and Performing Arts Captain, Daisy Rodgers, provided strong support for staff and students throughout the year, leading by example at every opportunity.

The academic and sessional faculty staff have worked tirelessly through the challenges of 2021, achieving excellent results.

Andrew Dale – Chair of Faculty, Performing Arts

RELIGION, PHLOSOPHY AND ETHICS The RP&E Faculty have once again dug deep to support our students through another disrupted year. We have pivoted from inperson classes, to zoom lessons, to independent projects. We have found new ways to use the NEXUS learning management system and have supported each other throughout.

2021 brought more challenges than just COVID-19 and periods of learning at home, our Chaplain Rev. Dr. Timothy Gaden has had cancer treatment across the year and the Faculty was augmented

by Mr Peter Curry teaching the Unit 1 and 2 VCE Philosophy course and our new Choral Director Ms Trish Dulude adding to her load by teaching Tim’s Year 10 Religion & Society class and a number of Year 7 classes. Whilst we farewelled Tim at the end of 2021 as he moves to a smaller school and sunnier climes we are delighted that Peter and Trish will continue to offer their expertise and care to the Faculty in 2022. The faculty have been tremendously flexible, professional, compassionate and caring throughout the year supporting students, their families and each other: Ms Fiona Whitehouse, Ms Dani Armstrong, Ms Jo Ashman and Mr Keith Romanis along with Tim, Peter and Trish have completed a remarkable year!

One key element of RP&E teaching in the second semester was the implementation of a trans-faculty project for the Middle School students that used time in Digitech and RP&E classes to bridge the gap of learning at home and the return to school called “Flip the

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Script”. RP&E teachers worked alongside their colleagues to deliver a program that was completed at home and then onto campus working with Crazy Ideas College to the great benefit of the students.

2022 will bring new challenges and new opportunities, in the face of which the RP&E Faculty are well placed to flourish!

Keith Romanis Chair of Faculty, Religion Philosophy and Ethics

SCIENCE Teaching and Learning For the Science Faculty, as for many, 2021 was another year of innovation. During the Learning at Home periods, our teachers were again creative in their approach to teaching, designing many new and exciting activities for our students to complete at home.

The Year 7 students built and tested their own parachutes and catapults, Year 8 students simulated the rock cycle with chocolate, while Year 9 students conducted their own ‘kitchen science’ experiments at home while investigating the pH of various household items. In the senior classes we saw activities such as cell model making, stop-motion videos about mitosis and meiosis, and household waste audits for Environmental Science. On returning to school, staff members in the Science faculty were quick to reflect and include new practices in their programs which were found to be beneficial during the Learning at Home period.

Laura Bramble Chair of Faculty, Science

COMMUNITY BALLARAT GRAMMAR FOUNDATION President – Mr Phillip Mann Senior Vice President – Mr G R Eyres Junior Vice President – Mrs P Coghlan Mr L G Evans, Mrs A Gaunt, Mr G I Millar, Mr M C Warwick, Mr C Moore Dual Company Secretaries – Mr P G Hunt and Mr P F O’Dwyer The Ballarat Grammar Foundation retains as its primary purpose the preservation and development of the services, property, and facilities of the School by providing funds which bridge the gap between income from fees and government grants and expenditure within the operating budget of the School. The Foundation achieves this by prudent management of its investments and through the pursuance of donations, corporate support, gifts, and bequests to underpin its work.

Now in its fortieth year of operation the Foundation has played a critical role in ensuring the on-going stability of Ballarat Grammar.

Never has this been more critical than over the course of the past two years through the COVID-19 pandemic. This would not be possible without the continuing high level of support from parents of the School, past students, staff, and friends.

The Annual Giving Program remains a primary source of Foundation fundraising and the high level of support for this program, which in 2021 focussed on the Ballarat Grammar Foundation Scholarship Fund, the Must Memorial Library Redevelopment and the Sustainable Technology Year 9 Heinz Centre project is again gratefully acknowledged.

A large proportion of current School families contributed to the Building Fund whilst a number of friends and supporters of the School committed to pledges, gave generous gifts, or advised of bequests which have been made in the School’s favour. This support is greatly appreciated.

Director of Development, Mr Travis Polkinghorne led the Development Office throughout the year with valuable assistance from Mrs Gemma Kelly. The Foundation continues to be active in its support of past students and the wider Ballarat Grammar community. In the early months of 2021, we held a number of strongly supported reunions including the 2015 6 Year Reunion, Past Staff Reunion, Gala Reunion (1980, 1990, 2000 & 2010), and 2019 2 Year Reunion. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions we had to postpone the 2018 (3 year) Reunion, Gala Reunion: 1981 (40), 1991 (30), 2001 (20), 2011 (10), and 2016 5 Year Reunions as well as the Sydney, Queensland, and 50+ Years Luncheons.

2021 saw the retirement of long serving Foundation Board members Mr K R Cook and Mr C McIntosh at the Foundation AGM in March. We also saw the resignation of Mrs Claire Hay from her role as Alumni Relations Officer. We thank them for their generous support of the Foundation and wish them well for the future.

The Foundation records its appreciation of the insightful leadership brought to Foundation matters by our Headmaster, Mr Adam Heath in what has been a complex year and we look forward to a long and beneficial relationship as we continue to meet our goals.

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The care and support that people have shown for one another throughout 2021 was outstanding and we are proud to be part of a School community that is filled with such kindness and consideration. The resilience demonstrated by our School community, particularly the staff and students has been inspirational. It is reassuring to know that we came together as a community to help each other in such unprecedented times.

The Ballarat Grammar Foundation again offers its sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who supported the School in 2021.

BALLARAT AND QUEEN’S OLD GRAMMARIANS’ ASSOCIATION It has been a busy year in my first year as President of the Ballarat and Queen’s Old Grammarians’ Association (BQOGA) and we are grateful that we were able to hold some of our planned events including our 2015 (5 Year) Reunion, Gala Reunion for 1980, 1990, 2000 & 2010 and our 2019 (2 Year) Reunion. It is unfortunate that we had to postpone the remainder of our reunions for the year; however, we look forward to holding these reunions in 2022.

We hosted our inaugural BQOGA Careers' Breakfast in May, focusing on careers in the Health sector. This was a great success with many Old Grammarians involved as speakers on the panel, and our senior students finding this valuable for their research into a career in health. We are looking forward to holding more Careers' Breakfasts in 2022 and beyond.

Our Heritage Football matches were held for our boys' and girls' football teams in May and June. Both teams played well with ‘Best on Ground’ awards going to Year 12 students Sam Breuer and Jorja Jones. The teams wore the Heritage jerseys, and I was honoured to be able to present them to the boys' team before their game.

In other Old Grammarian sporting news, we were proud to watch Lucy Stephan (2009) bring home gold at the Tokyo Olympics in the rowing, and Stuart Brehaut (1996), National Coach of the Australian Badminton team for the Games. Well done to Lucy and Stuart!

We held the BQOGA Annual General Meeting in February 2021. We welcome Old Grammarians to join our committee and help shape the future of Ballarat and Queen’s Anglican Grammar School, build connections with other Old Grammarians, and get involved in opportunities that make a difference to our School.

Tom Hunt (2012) President, Ballarat and Queen's Old Grammarians' Association

FRIENDS OF BALLARAT GRAMMAR Following a very challenging 2020 we all commenced 2021 with the belief that the worst was behind us and with the new year came a fresh start. Little did we realise what lay ahead.

The first event of the year was the ‘Welcome Back Morning Tea’ held in Olston Quad where a large number of new and returning parents gathered on the first day of school. It was again a wonderful opportunity to reconnect after the Christmas break and share our hopes for a positive year.

Despite a snap 5 day lockdown in February and a sharp rise in our anxiety levels, we continued to promote Friends of Ballarat Grammar gatherings and give parents the opportunity to engage with others and be fully apprised of new and existing developments across all areas of the school.

Our first gathering, at the beginning of March focused on Ballarat Grammar Health Centre where Jess Fullerton gave us a comprehensive overview of managing illnesses and accidents at school. We sincerely thank Jess for her time.

Our Year 7 Parents Dinner event was again wonderfully successful and enthusiastically received. Thank you to all FOBG volunteers and boarding students who gave up their time to help out on the evening along with chef Adam Sekkar and his team for a delicious meal. We also thank Chris Van Styn for accommodating us and making other dinner arrangements for our boarding students so that we could take over their dining hall.

At the start of Term 2 we supported the school and assisted staff on Parent Teacher Interview Day. We give thanks to the Year 11 students who assisted on the day.

At our May gathering, which would also be our last for the year, we had a fabulous presentation from VCE Co-Ordinator Deb Eldridge and Year 12 co-ordinator Brandon Olver on pathways for our senior students and an explanation of ATARS, study scores and all things VCE. Following yet another snap lockdown we successfully managed to get our Annual Bus Trip back on the road to Bendigo. A small group of wonderful ladies enjoyed a trip to Bendigo Art Gallery to view the Mary Quant exhibition and a lovely lunch. We received some wonderful feedback from those that attended and our thanks to Virginnia for organising a fabulous day.

Then, yet again, the year came to a screeching halt. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in line with government restrictions, all events and gatherings for the remainder of the 2020 year had to be cancelled.

We sadly farewelled the fabulous Claire Hay at the end of Term 1 and we give thanks for her wonderful support and the work she undertook on behalf of ‘Friends’ behind the scenes. Even though we didn’t technically fall under her umbrella any more, she was always willing to help us and go over and beyond to support all that we do.

We wish her well at her new school. We also extend our thanks and appreciation to the Headmaster, Mr Adam Heath not only for his leadership during an extremely challenging time but for his overwhelming support and his willingness to openly engage with us.

Last but certainly not least, to the management committee, Vice President Virginnia Robson, Treasurer Keah Otto, Secretary Lynn Anne Wedley and general members Gretel Johns, Lea-anne Dolan, Verity Trigg, Cathy Caruso-Robinson, Sally Feldmann, Liz French, Angela Field, THANK YOU! Whilst 2021 was not the year we thought it would be, I thank you for staying the course and being willing to face whatever comes in 2022. In what will be my final year I look forward to 2022 and what we can achieve as we work together to rebuild the connections in our wonderful community. As Confucius says, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

Sue Lembo President

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THE VIKINGS ROWING CLUB 2021 has been a great year for the Vikings Rowing Club. As host of Head of the Lake in 2020 and 2021 seasons, for the event in 2021 we organised catering and merchandise for the Regatta, resulting in significant funds raised for the club.

We enjoyed the Annual Rowing Dinner at the Mecure, celebrating everything we were able to achieve during the 2020/2021 rowing season.

We thank Garry Trotter and other members of the committee who gave so much of their time and energy into the club during a difficult period.

We are looking forward to continuing to assist the School’s Rowing Program through each Rowing Camp with catering and general support, shed breakfasts during the season, and multiple support activities on Regatta days.

Lyndall Geddes President, Vikings Rowing Club Committee

STAFF ASSOCIATION The Staff Association of Ballarat Grammar aims to contribute support in a significant way to making Ballarat Grammar an outstanding place to work.

It endeavours to do this by:  Encouraging and supporting each other in times of need  Supporting groups within our community who are in need  Organising social events across all areas of the School  Continuing to work with the Administration and Governance of the School in a partnership that fosters goodwill.

In 2021, staff contributions assisted our ongoing sponsorship of students in Starehe Boys Centre and School in Kenya, The School of Saint Jude in Tanzania and Thai Water Projects, as well as making contributions to students and staff at Ballarat Grammar to support their endeavours and opportunities where necessary.

Jason Simmons President, Staff Association

CITY CITE In 2021, once again City Cite did have school bookings for the full forty weeks of the school year up until mid-December. Various other organisations had booked to use the facility, including several workshops for GATEWAYS holiday programs, GradReady and a United Nations Youth Association conference and for meetings.

Unfortunately, as was the case in 2020 to COVID 19 restrictions, from late May bookings were postponed or cancelled through to Term 4 with two short exceptions. During Term 3 we worked with schools to reschedule and rebook programs often several times! In the end in Term 4 City Cite was able to host Sacre Coeur, Genazzano FCJ, Huntingtower in November for a week each and Ballarat Grammar Year 8 for two days in early December. Also ran, were some day length orientation days for Xavier College. This was in addition to an online program that we ran for Xavier at the end of Term 3.

Despite not having students for much of the year, we have continued to review our teaching materials to bring keep them upto-date and make them more attractive, appeal to the students and meet curriculum objectives. We have continued to look at innovation in the way that we present and the way that we expect students to report back to us and to their parents. It has been frustrating that City Cite was not able to operate as normal all year to trial fully new ideas Schools and organisations that were booked at City Cite in 2021 include the following. The schools that actually were able to take part in a program are marked in BOLD TYPE: Auburn High School Australian International Academy Ballarat Grammar Year 9 Ballarat Grammar Year 8 Ballarat Grammar Year 10 Ballarat Grammar reunion Berwick Grammar Braybrook College (2 of 10 classes) GATEWAYS Geelong College Geelong Lutheran College (3days) Genazzano FCJ (rescheduled) Gippsland Grammar Hamilton College Huntingtower (rescheduled) Kingswood College Korowa Girls School Year 9 Mt Scopus Memorial College Newhaven College Orchard Church Oxley College Plenty Valley Christian College Redrock Christian College Sacré Coeur (rescheduled) St Andrew’s Grammar St Margaret’s School Woodleigh School Xavier (Burke Hall) - modified Xavier (Kostka Hall) It continues to be a great advantage for City Cite to have had a dedicated and talented staff with Andrew Barker, Claire Walter, Trista Wright, and several very competent sessional staff. With the advent of COVID 19 the staff as in 2020 needed to pivot. Andrew and Trista spent most of the time from late Term 2 onwards till mid-October in Ballarat at Ballarat Grammar looking after the inschool care program for students that had to be at school. This was much appreciated – especially by the staff of the Junior School.

Claire Walter worked on developing curriculum initiatives for City Cite and on special projects for Ballarat Grammar. As Director I maintained contact with our partner schools rescheduling and rebooking programs in the hope that lockdowns would finally end.

To the staffs’ relief the end of the year has ended positively. As long as COVID is kept under control 2023 should be an excellent year. The enthusiasm of the staff and their preparedness to be flexible was again of great value.

Harry Leather Director of City Cite

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SPORT After the disappointment of much of 2020 sport being lost to Covid-19, 2021 started with much promise and enthusiasm. Term 1 saw the return to all ‘normal’ activities with our rowing crews in full swing and House and Inter-school sporting activities back to what we had hoped. The Head of the Lake regatta provided a huge surprise, with our Boys 1sts crew getting up to take out the prize over a seemingly unbeatable SPC crew. House Aquatic and Athletic carnivals provided much excitement and for some students the first opportunity to experience these wonderful school events. By the completion of the term, our senior boys had achieved a remarkable feat by taking out all Senior BAS trophies on offer, Tennis, Swimming, Cricket, Volleyball and Rowing.

Term 2 continued in much the same fashion with a plethora of sporting teams contesting a variety of sports. Our senior boy’s 1st XVIII football team defeated BCC for the first time in nearly 10 years, whilst the girls won yet another BAS football premiership. Our A grade badminton team were unstoppable, and both our A and B senior girls ‘netball teams won BAS premierships. Our Athletic team travelled to Melbourne to take out the ICCES competition, however the BAS athletics carnival was sadly cancelled, not due to another Covid lockdown, but one of the fiercest storms to hit the region in many years.

With the first half of the year behind us, students were really looking forward to term 3 sport, when Covid once again sent us in and out of numerous lockdowns. After the disappointment of missing term 3 sport last year, this was especially hard for our students, as this term is usually our busiest with some 40 teams playing several sports, including basketball, netball, soccer, football, hockey, volleyball and numerous cross-country events.

With the country slowly becoming ‘double vaxxed’, students returned to school in term 4 and we were at first able to offer school-based sporting activities, followed by some Inter-school sport. As we did at the end of 2020, let’s hope that this pandemic is now behind us, and we can look forward to 2022 with hope and optimism.

INTERSCHOOL COMPETITION ATHLETICS • ICCES Overall Team Champions • Tristan Leyshan (Year 8 Boy) Individual Champion • Floyd Burmeister (Year 9 Boy) Individual Champion • Zoe Ferry (Year 10 Girl) Individual Champion BADMINTON • BAS Open Mixed A Grade Champions BASKETBALL • BAS Junior A Girls Champions CRICKET • BAS 2-Day 1st XI Senior Boys Champions • BAS T20 2nd XI Senior Boys Runners-Up • BAS Senior Girls Runners-Up CROSS COUNTRY • BAS Road Relays • Boys Overall Champions • Girls Overall Champions • Co-Educational Overall Champions

FOOTBALL • BAS Senior Girls Champions • BAS Senior Boys Runners-Up • BAS Intermediate Boys Champions • BAS Year 8 Boys Champions HOCKEY • BAS Junior Girls Champions NETBALL • BAS Senior 1sts Champions • BAS Senior 2nds Champions • BAS Senior 3rds Runners-Up • BAS Senior 4ths Champions ROWING • Senior Boys Division 1 – Head of the Lake Champions Will Clarke (bow), Will Ussher (2), Sebastian Pendlebury (3), Hugh Bond (stroke) and Ollie Warwick (cox).

• Year 10 Girls Division 2 - Lily Jordan (bow), Annabel Hodge (2), Perri Eaton (3), Ella Gleeson (stroke) and Poppy Kingdom-Pearce (cox) • Year 10 Boys Division 4 - Alex Herrod (bow), Charlie Stock (2), Max Doust (3), Angus Gaylard (stroke) and Amy Schreenan (cox).

• Year 10 Girls Division 5 - Saffron Smith (bow), Annie Sullivan (2), Ella Furness (3), Ruby Hopkins (stroke) and Mathilda Rivers (cox).

• Year 10 Girls Division 6 - Jade Klein (bow), Jazmin VincentDurow (2), Sophie Murray (3), Eleanor Grieve (stroke) and Winnie Heagney (cox).

• Year 9 Boys Division 4 - Darcy Jones (bow), Harris Timms (2), Charles Seebeck (3), Angus Gray (stroke) and Will French (cox).

• Year 9 Boys Division 5 - Harper Walsh (bow), Charlie Alcock (2), Jono Alcock (3), Will Beechey (stroke) and Oscar Booth (cox).

SWIMMING • BAS Girls Overall Champions • BAS Senior Boys Champions • ICCES Overall Team Champions • Zoe Schnyder (Year 7 Girls) Individual Champion • Amy Bregazzi (Year 9 Girls) Individual Champion • Anna Swanton (Year 10 Girls) Individual Champion • Keylah Walker (Senior Girls) Individual Champion TENNIS • BAS Senior A Boys Champions • BAS Senior A Girls Champions • BAS Senior B Girls Champions • BAS McNeil Cup – James O’Sullivan – Senior Boys Champion VOLLEYBALL • BAS Senior A Boys Champions • BAS Intermediate A Girls Champions • BAS Intermediate B Girls Champions • BAS Junior A Grade Girls Champions • BAS Junior B Grade Girls Champions

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

HOUSE COMPETITIONS

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

2021 HOUSE ATHLETIC RECORD BREAKERS Boys 21 & U 800m Walk Fraser Saunder Boys 15 & U Triple Jump Ryan Hovey Girls 15 & U Triple Jump Zoe Ferry Boys 14 & U High Jump Floyd Burmeister Boys 13 & U High Jump Harley Hicks Girls 12 & U Triple Jump Mackayla Culvenor Boys 12 & U High Jump Jack Howard

3:20.83s 12.60m 10.71m 1.79m 1.70m 9.97m 1.48m

Butler Robin Macpherson Wigan Dart Krome Smith

2021 ICCES ATHELTIC RECORD BREAKERS Boys Year 9 High Jump Floyd Burmeister Girls Year 10 Triple Jump Zoe Ferry

1.83m 10.61m

Wigan Macpherson

2021 SCHOOL ATHLETIC RECORD BREAKERS Boys U21 800m Walk Fraser Saunder Boys U15 High Jump Floyd Burmeister Boys U14 High Jump Harley Hicks Boys U16 Triple Jump Ryan Hovey Girls U16 Triple Jump Zoe Ferry Girls U17 1500m Georgina Mees Boys U16 Long Jump Ryan Hovey Charlie Arnts Boys U13 Shot Put

3:20.83s 1.83m 1.70m 12.60m 10.71m 4:56.64s 6.39m 11.23m

Butler Wigan Dart Robin Macpherson Manifold Robin Dart

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

2021 HOUSE RECORD BREAKERS Girls 12 & U 50m Freestyle Girls 12 & U 50m Backstroke Girls 12 & U 50m Breaststroke Girls 12 & U 50m Butterfly Girls 14 & U 50m Freestyle Boys 16 & U 50m Breaststroke Boys 14 & U 50m Butterfly

Zoe Schnyder Zoe Schnyder Zoe Schnyder Zoe Schnyder Amy Bregazzi Jonas Paar Giles Peters

30.95s 34.65s 39.29s 31.00s 29.92s 33.02s 29.93s

Cuthbert Cuthbert Cuthbert Cuthbert Manifold Butler Smith

2021 ICCES RECORD BREAKERS Year 7 Girls 50m Breaststroke Zoe Schnyder 37.33s Cuthbert Year 9 Boys 50m Breaststroke Dayne Schnyder 33.47s Robin Girls Year 9 4x50m Medley Relay - 2:05.40s Jazmin Vincent-Durow, Skye Laube, Amy Bregazzi and Lila Paar 2021 BAS RECORD BREAKERS Year 7 Girls 50m Breaststroke Year 7 Girls 50m Butterfly

Zoe Schnyder Zoe Schnyder

38.02s 31.52s

Cuthbert Cuthbert

2021 SCHOOL SWIM RECORDS BREAKERS Girls U13 50m Freestyle Zoe Schnyder 30.69s Cuthbert Girls U15 50m Freestyle Amy Bregazzi 29.29s Manifold Girls U13 50m Backstroke Zoe Schnyder 35.96s Cuthbert Girls U13 50m Butterfly Zoe Schnyder 31.52s Cuthbert Girls U17 50m Butterfly Keylah Walker 31.86s Macpherson Girls U13 50m Breaststroke Zoe Schnyder 37.33s Cuthbert Boys U16 50m Breaststroke Dayne Schnyder 33.47s Robin Girls Year 9 4x50m Medley Relay - 2:05.40s Jazmin Vincent-Durow, Skye Laube, Amy Bregazzi and Lila Paar Girls U21 4x50m Freestyle Relay - 2:07.54s Keylah Walker, Amber McClure, Charlotte Bodey and Lucia Hill

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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