FAREWELL YEAR 12 2022

As we approached the finish of the year for our Year 12 students there were numerous opportunities to mark this important milestone in their lives and to farewell all students in Year 12. The first of these activities was a special dinner to farewell our boarding students and their families. Our boarders play a special role in the life of CGS, a place that has been their ‘second home’.

It was also an honour to welcome back our CGS Alumni panel that included Tiger Steele, Brent Carolan, Rebecca Staite and Chris Wilson for the annual Alumni lunch which engages our current students with the possibilities available as CGS Alumni. There were many important occasions at the end of Term 3 including dress-up days, the return of the staff v Year 12 debate, a beautiful sunny day for the water play on the Main oval and a BBQ breakfast hosted by the P&F association. The last formal day for all of Year 12 included a final House meeting, special Chapel service, final assembly and the emotional ‘march out’.

Finally, after all examinations had been completed in Term 4, it was wonderful to host the Valedictory Celebration for all Year 12 students and their parents/guardians in the Snow Concert Hall followed by refreshments in the Quad. The following evening saw the Year 12 Formal at Old Parliament House which was a lovely evening. We say goodbye with sadness but wish them the best in the years ahead!

The Year 12 class of 2022 contributed enormously to a wonderful year in the life of the Senior School. From the beginning of the year, our School Captains, with the support Year 12 students, prioritised four key initiatives that focused on bringing positive change to the life of the Senior School. The following initiatives were central to the activities run throughout the year:

• Improving the sense of belonging that all members of our school feel

• Continuing to highlighting the issue of mental health difficulties and how to receive support

• Fostering student voice at CGS; and

• Improving our awareness and action regarding sustainability.

Many powerful and positive messages and guest speakers provided clear insights in these four areas and the development of a revamped and rejuvenated SRC committee model based on each year group provided the avenue for student voice to be much more prominent.

Year 12 lead the School very positively as a wide variety of events returned across the Whole School activities such as House Music, carnivals, service initiatives and individual House activities throughout the year.

As can be seen from the summary details below, all Year 12 students should be congratulated on their superb results in both the HSC and the IBDP. Given the disruption to their learning over many years, these excellent results which are amongst the best we have received, are a testament to the calibre and commitment of our students.

Special thanks to our School Leaders for 2022 from Year 12 who had such a positive influence on the life of Canberra Grammar School. Tom Gazard, Evie Lane, Zara Ford, Nick Yannopoulos, Lily Feakes, Mia Byron and Orlando Throsby were all inspirational captains, and they were superbly supported by the House Captains, Co-curricular Captains and many others without “official” leadership titles.

The end of 2022 also brings an end to my 13 years as Head of Senior School at CGS and although I will be moving to another role from the start of 2023 it is important that I thank everyone who has supported me in this role. I do believe that CGS has developed enormously during this period of time and it has been a privilege to serve the staff, students and families in helping to develop students of character, who are ready for the world. There have been times of challenge, but overall it has been a very rewarding and fulfilling job and we have had lots of fun and excitement through these years.

– David Smart, Head of Senior School