Out and About

An Exciting Exchange

In Term 1 we excitedly welcomed 11 students from our partner school, Ueda Nishi, in Nagano, Japan.

During their stay, our visitors were treated to a taste of unique Australian culture and school life. A beach visit, getting up close and personal with flora and fauna at the Australian Reptile Park and even trying their hand at cooking a BBQ were all part of the itinerary.

As part of learning about celebrations of the world, Year 2 enjoyed a special visit from two of the Japanese students, Ayana and Ena, who dressed in traditional dress and spoke about all the different festivals in Japan.

Sweet Science

What better way to learn about the thing that makes up all living organisms and tissues – a cell – than with sweets!

Year 7 Science students combined imagination with science for a lesson never to be forgotten.

A+ FOR CLEAN UP

CCGS got top marks for the first whole-school Clean Up Australia Day action which resulted in over 4,000 pieces of rubbish being collected! Students worked in House Family groups to pick up litter across the School’s 18-hectares as well as from surrounding areas.

Single-use plastic was identified as the main culprit, with much of the debris coming onto the roadside from car traffic and passers-by. The CCGS Environmental Action Group is now looking at practical solutions we can implement to further reduce, reuse and recycle.

Dragon Dance Delights

Using round sweets to represent the nucleus which contains the cell’s genetic material, jelly to represent the cytoplasm and small sweets to represent the mitochondria which are responsible for producing energy within the cell, students tapped into their creativity and food technology skills to create some amazing cellular representations. Add a sweet layer of competition and the results were outstanding! Congratulations to the winning team - Ellen Bowen, Hope Owen, Eva Duerden and Annabelle Wilton.

Harmony Day celebrated and appreciated our ever-growing cultural diversity while also promoting the School’s values of respect and inclusivity. A highlight of the day was the Chinese Dragon performances. Junior students learned why dragons are important in Chinese culture, how to manoeuvre the dragon and the meaning behind the dance, ‘Facing Your Fears’. A few lucky students even had the chance to try on the large dragon head!

A Picture Tells A Thousand Words

One of Australia’s most soughtafter children’s literature illustrators, Indigenous artist Dub Leffler visited Year 6 to talk about linking language to images and his process for illustrating a book.

Students have been studying a book Mr Leffler illustrated, ‘Bindi’, which

Youth Week Awards

explores climate, bushfires and healing and is written from the point of view of an 11-year-old girl, Bindi. There was also an opportunity to explore some of the other books he has illustrated and learn first-hand the process of creating illustrations for print.

Picnic At Hanging Rock

Four civic-minded senior students were recognised at the 2023 Central Coast Youth Week awards for their contribution to the local community and for being positive role models for other young people within the region.

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

• Youth Week Finalist: Matthew Trethewy

• Sportsperson of the Year: Highly Commended - Logan Radford

Finalist - Lilly Hofer

• Youth Leadership Finalist: Annabelle King

The first drama production of the year set the bar high with the captivating performance of Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Performed by Senior College students, the play follows the mysterious disappearance of a group of Australian schoolgirls and their Mathematics teacher who disappear on the jagged peaks of Hanging Rock in rural Victoria.

The play not only showcased stellar acting performances, but students were also responsible for all backstage and audio-visual roles.

Jamming For A Cause

Jamnesty is a highly anticipated event on the CCGS calendar, with the school community once again unifying in support of Amnesty International.

The entertaining night was filled with incredible student performances ranging from improvised guitar battles to original compositions. Funds raised were donated to two causes: helping stop the systemic discrimination against Afghan women and the prevention of Indigenous deaths in custody.

Ancient Civilisation Roadshow

As part of their study of ancient Egypt, Year 7 took a breathtaking journey into the treasures of ancient civilisation when the Tut Roadshow came to visit.

The roadshow is a mobile world-class museum, archaeology exhibition and workshop that brings the wonders of ancient Egypt to life.

With their workbook in hand, students made their way around history stations filled with authentic artefacts. They then worked on tomb paintings and hieroglyphs and even made their own cartouche to take home!

Harvesting A Greener Future

Year 3 students put their design-thinking skills into action to design a sustainable farm.

Using the design thinking framework, students researched and analysed existing sustainable farming practices like soil health, crop rotation, water management, renewable energy sources and animal welfare.

Riding High

There was no horseplay at the Interschools State Championships as the CCGS Equestrian Team showed unbridled spirit to achieve amazing results.

• Kai Wilkinson (Year 8)6th Overall Intermediate Show Hunter

• Mila Caska (Year 3)5th in the Primary Show Horse

• Elken Caska (Year 3)8th in the Primary Show Hunter

• Cody McPherson (Year 12)2nd in the 90cm* Senior

• Amy Thomson (Year 7) - 1st in the 90cm* and 2nd in the Grand Prix 1m*, Reserve Champion in 90cm and 4th overall in the 80cm*

*indicates the height of the show jumps

Junior School classrooms were opened for the special women in our students’ lives ahead of Mother’s Day. Students proudly showcased their latest work, performed an action-packed dance and showed their learning spaces to their parents, grandparents and carers.

The Mother’s Day stall, organised by our wonderful volunteers, saw students select a special gift to take home. Each student also made a card for their guests as a special memento of their time together.

Koinobori For Kids

Colourful carp streamers (koinobori) flew high on the CCGS flagpole on 5 May in honour of Children’s Day (kodomo no hi) in Japan.

In Japanese culture, carp are known for their ability to swim upstream; they represent courage, determination, and the hope that children will grow up healthily.

These days, the koinobori are commonly flown above the roofs of houses, with the biggest (black) koinobori for the father, the next biggest (red or pink) for the mother and an additional, smaller carp of a different colour for each child in decreasing order by age.

Students then developed a farm plan that outlined the specific components of a sustainable farm and started work designing their farm using drawings, Minecraft and Lego.

Year 10 Geography students reviewed the prototype designs and provided important feedback and ideas around sustainable energy production and how to manage farms in drought times.

Year 12 Parent Breakfast

A wonderful morning of connection between families and Year 12 students helped cement the power of a strong support network during the final year of school.

The Year 12 Parent Breakfast is a much-loved annual tradition where families come together in a casual setting to bond and share stories ahead of what can be a stressful exam period for students. The yummy treats helped too!

Acting On Your Dreams

West End and International Theatre Producer, Jason Haigh-Ellery visited CCGS to share his knowledge and expertise with Performing Arts staff and students.

Director of Performing Arts, Mr Lee Fleming, said, “This was an extremely rare and unique opportunity.

It is the first school in Australia that Jason has visited in which he gave a theatre industry lecture on possible future career pathways, the realities of the profession and expectations of a student if they wish to pursue a career in performing arts.”