Firbank Grammar School Magazine | Summer 2018/19 by Firbank Grammar School

FIRBANK GRAMMAR SCHOOL MAGAZINE

| No 53 Summer 2018/19

LONG DAY EDUCATION*

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NOW A CARE REGISTERE SUBS IDY P D CHILD ROGR AM

7.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m

BRIGHTON GIRLS CAMPUS SANDRINGHAM CO-ED CAMPUS 3 & 4 year old kindergarten TO REGISTER - firbank.vic.edu.au

*In addition to our existing ELC program

CONTENTS

FIRBANK TODAY | From The Board From The Principal 110 Years Curriculum Wellbeing Music Precinct From Our Co-Directors of Music Dance, Drama and Performing Arts Sport Junior School: Sandringham Junior School: Brighton Parent Associations Annual Giving, List of Donors FIRBANK ALUMNI | FOGA Reunions FIRBANK NEWS | Congratulations Current Students Congratulations, Condolences, Welcome Jo Field

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FIRBANK TODAY | From The Board This year has been another wonderful year for Firbank Grammar as we continue to be a leader in education and to inspire our students to have a life-long love of learning.

Our School has done exceptionally well both inside and outside of the classroom. Students from all three campuses have won competitions in Debating, Math, Geography, Science and Language, taken part in mock UN meetings, set a world record in Ergo Rowing, danced, played and sung in concerts and theatre sports, hosted art exhibitions, and excelled in a range of sporting pursuits including wins from our soccer, aerobics, equestrian and athletics teams and rowing crews and especially our divers who celebrated their 16th consecutive victory in the Girls Sport Victoria (GSV) Diving Championship.

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The students have consistently achieved academically throughout the year and I am pleased to acknowledge the dedication of our students and their teachers in the pursuit of knowledge. Firbank prides itself on its outstanding results at all year levels, from our Junior Campuses right through to Year 12. This year our NAPLAN results broke school records across our Junior Campuses and our VCE students are well prepared to once again achieve results amongst the highest in the State.

The Board was pleased to see the opening of our new Dance Studio in April this year and have had great feedback from our Dance students. The Studio has enabled an increase in the School’s dance offering and provided students with a new space for choreography, dance and theatre opportunities. Firbank’s love of the Arts was seen this year through our Junior School performances of ‘The Lion King Junior’ and ‘Once On This Island Junior’ and our ‘Shrek’ and ‘Chicago’ senior productions. We were also winners at the School Theatresports Competition which was a great experience for our Senior School Theatre students. The strong working relationship between the Board, our Principal, Jenny Williams and the Senior Leadership Team has enabled many improvements across the three campuses in programs, facilities and learning. We have also participated in many wonderful school events that showcase what a great community Firbank has. It is these connections that make our School such a pleasure to be involved with. My fellow Board members and I thank you all for your contributions to our School environment. It is through the support of our volunteers, parent groups and Old Grammarians and the dedication of our staff that we continue to undertake new and exciting opportunities and build new offerings, programs and facilities across the School. I look forward to seeing many of you at the official opening of our Music Precinct in February and throughout our 110-year celebrations next year.

Jennine Ross Chair of the Board

From The Principal | FIRBANK TODAY Often I talk of wanting Firbank students to be continual conquerors of knowledge in line with our School motto, ‘Vincit qui se vincit’ (one conquers who conquers oneself). But what does that mean? In essence it means that we are always learning and growing and by reflecting on our strengths and weaknesses, we are better equipped to face challenges that may come our way. As a School, we have a unique opportunity to help shape the minds of our young students. We are entrusted with opening the students up to the many educational possibilities that await them and introducing the students to a new understanding of the world in which they live. From ELC to Year 12, we take students on a learning journey that begins with the basics of how to play, how to read and how to write all the way through to Senior School where they begin to form the ideas of the person that they want to be beyond our crested gates. Firbank encourages our students to find their passions and pursue them in action. Our extensive curriculum allows students to explore academic and co-curricular opportunities. We encourage students to try as many varied activities as possible and to persist with things that at first may seem too hard. I want our students to know that if they have a passion and the resilience to see their actions through, that they will develop the skills to realise their dreams.

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As Principal of Firbank Grammar for a year and a half it has been my privilege to be a part of our students’ learning journey together with my own. Learning doesn’t finish when formal education does – it is a lifelong journey where we are constantly building on our knowledge and discovering new possibilities.

As our School approaches its 110-year anniversary next year, I look back on the many achievements of Firbank Grammar, but it is also my role to look to the future of our great school too. I am pleased that in 2019 we will be launching our new strategic direction for the School and will be once again renewing facilities with several developments that will begin over the Christmas break. I am delighted that we will be officially opening our Music Precinct next year and that we are continuing to build on our school curriculum across our campuses. I thank our School community for its support of Firbank Grammar this year. I look forward to continuing our School’s strong traditions and to making positive change as together we embrace the many learnings on our journey to come. Jenny Williams Principal

FIRBANK TODAY | 110 Years

Next year is Firbank Grammar’s 110 Year Celebrations. We have seen many changes and advancements but above all we have been a home to the many students who have entered our crested gates. We welcome you to join us on this journey with celebrations that will take place throughout the whole of 2019. Our community will gather for a Gala Ball, a whole School student long lunch, a staff celebration, an all School photo and many other festivities throughout the year. We will recognise Firbank’s achievements over the past 110 years and look to the future of our distinguished School. Over the years, Firbank has gone from strength to strength. We continue to provide the very best educational experiences to our students through their learning journey from ELC to Year 12. Tickets for the Gala Ball will be available and will be held on the Saturday, 25 May 2019. We encourage our Firbank Community to buy a ticket or a table and come along.

Students embody our motto ‘Vincit qui se vincit’ – One conquers, who conquers oneself. Throughout our 110-year history, Firbank students have consistently achieved both academically and in their co-curricular endeavours. We encourage our students to be conquerors of learning and form a passion for knowledge that will continue throughout their lives.

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FIRBANK TODAY BE OUR PARTNER There are a range of sponsorship opportunities available to show your support of our 110 Year celebrations or you can assist in the form of donations to our Gala Ball Silent Auction. Should you or your business have any queries regarding sponsorship please contact Amanda Webster at awebster@firbank.vic.edu.au or ph: 9591 5148. 请注意我们有一系列的赞助机会来表达您对110周年校庆的支持，您也可以以向舞会拍卖会捐赠拍卖品的形式。如果您有任何关于您或您商业赞助方面的疑问，请联系：Amanda Webster: awebster@firbank.vic.edu.au, 电话：9591 5148，或朱凌: Lzhu@firbank.vic.edu.au, 电话：9591 5130.

SAVE THE DATE Wednesday, 3 April 2019 Whole School Picnic and Photo to Celebrate 110 Years Saturday, 25 May 2019 10 Year Gala Ball

OFFICIAL OPENING

OF THE MUSIC PRECINCT BY THE GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA Thursday, 28 February 2019 5

FIRBANK TODAY | Curriculum 2017 VCE TERTIARY PATHWAYS

YEAR 9 REVIEW

• 90 % of Firbank students received their first of second tertiary preference • 20% of students chose to study double degrees

In 2018 we reviewed the Year 9 Program. The review enabled us to identify what is relevant in the current Program and what would help us to address any gaps in our offerings. We revised academic time allocated to subjects, the academic relevance of programs in Year 9 and the position of our curricular and co-curricular activities within the timetable.

First Preference Second Preference

One of the opportunities that came from the review was an increase in our English and Maths curriculum by 17%.

Third Preference Fourth Preference Sixth Preference

NAPLAN RESULTS BY THE NUMBERS Our Junior School Campuses in Sandringham and Brighton broke School records with their outstanding NAPLAN results this year.

The diversity of career paths chosen by our students reflects the rich and varied experiences we offer at Firbank.

10%

Arts

12%

Design

10%

Management

11% 11%

Law Science

34%

Health Engineering

Once again, the majority of students gained entry to the University of Melbourne, Monash University and RMIT with management and commerce courses being popular destinations.

RMIT 18%

University of Melbourne 28%

Monash University 35% 6

There was significant individual student growth from Year 3 to Year 5 with students achieving between 75% – 94% growth across all domains. In Year 3 and 5 100 % of students achieved above the National Minimum Standards (NMS) in Reading, Writing, Grammar and Punctuation. 98% of students in Years 3, 5 and 7 achieved above the NMS for Numeracy.

95%

95% of Year 7 students achieved above the NMS for Reading.

94%

94% of Year 9 students were above NMS for Numeracy and Reading.

Wellbeing | FIRBANK TODAY

Since joining the Firbank Grammar Senior Leadership Team this year, I have seen first-hand the many ways in which the Wellbeing of our students is always front of mind. Wellbeing is a Pillar of our School and permeates everything we do and the decisions that we as a School make. Wellbeing is more than just bricks and mortar, or programs and experiences, it is a culture we strive to nourish.

For me, Wellbeing is more than just feeling happy; it is the ability to face challenges, to make a contribution, to set and achieve goals, to have a strong sense of self-worth and to help and support others. Most importantly, Wellbeing is about relationships. We believe that strong and resilient relationships create Wellbeing. Our responsibility is to educate Firbank students and give them the tools that they need to actively navigate and nourish their relationships.

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This year we have redeveloped our Mentor Program to focus on relationships. We value our Mentor teachers and believe they have a pivotal role in working with our students. They are the primary person within the school who knows, understands, supports and encourages each student in their group. We have worked to implement restorative practices throughout the School. In addition, staff have undertaken professional learning and training to ensure that all teachers are teachers of Wellbeing. Our aim is to produce genuine learning for life where we teach our students the skills of relationship management: self-regulation, constructive co-existence, resilience, agency and democratic engagement. Firbank teaches its students to know their strengths and to look at integrating these strengths into their School life. 2018 is our Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Year of Compassion and the students have taken on a number of initiatives to support this value. They have learnt about turning empathy into action and to be mindful of ways in which they can be compassionate both within the School and in our broader community. As we look to the future of Wellbeing within our School, we seek to further nurture our students. We encourage them to set and face challenges with the knowledge that they are supported and cared for by myself and Principal Jenny Williams, their peers, our staff and the greater Firbank community. Kate Major Director of Wellbeing

FIRBANK TODAY | Music Precinct

Muted by soundproofing, the Music Precinct hums with the echoes of strings and pianos, percussion and choirs. Each room is dedicated to bringing the best out of our students with acoustics purpose-built to enhance the sounds that they create. Our students work hard in multiple disciplines, some have been recognised for their gifts in competitions both here in Australia and internationally; some are new and at the beginning stages of their music journey. Firbank’s new Music Precinct welcomes them all.

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As you follow the brick path into the Music Precinct, you will see that the very building itself displays the School Hymn. Written in both musical notes and as a music roll, the building is ingrained with the chorus of our School. Throughout the inner building you will also see brass inlay of a musical stave. Everything is made to promote a love of music.

Simon Marsden and Philippa Jones, Firbank’s Co-Directors of Music said that the “Acoustics are the key to the success of the Music Precinct. The clarity of the music allows teachers and students to better hear the music and self-correct to advance their music pieces.” The size of the rooms is a great advantage too with approximately 450 music lessons being held by the Music Department each week. Larger rooms allow for ensemble groups to come together and practise as one. The Music Precinct is open to all students and encourages a greater love of the art of music. Students from our Junior Schools also use the area for lessons and many form a connection with the Music Program that stays with them throughout their schooling. There are seven teaching rooms plus the recital hall, choir room and music theory classrooms which enhance the School’s capabilities across music mediums and allows for greater sectional teaching and the implementation of orchestras. Firbank’s Choral Program and Bel Canto choir has been a tradition for many years. The Precinct will help to maintain our current high standards, improve our offerings and excite new students into joining the Choral Program. This year several students in our Instrumental Music Program went on an International Tour to China with Brighton Grammar School. The tour required six months of rehearsing and is the perfect example of why a dedicated music space such as this was needed. Going forward, Firbank hopes to offer even more opportunities like this to our music students. The Music Precinct colours the way people see the music program and gives our students a greater feeling of enjoyment and a sense of possibility for their music. The space was designed in collaboration with the music staff and is sure to attract even more music students in years to come. The addition of a percussion room is new for the Precinct and adds another element to our capabilities. Thank you to all the donors who contributed to the development of our new Music Precinct. Your support of Firbank’s Music Program is valued and we look forward to welcoming you at the official opening of the Music Precinct on Thursday, 28 February 2019.

From the Co-Directors of Music | FIRBANK TODAY One might be forgiven in thinking that the biggest event on the 2018 Music Calendar was the move into the new Music Precinct. While this will in time be seen as a momentous occasion in the history of music in our School, it was not the only highlight for the year nor the only ‘first’. Bel Canto began their year with some intensive workshops with the highly regarded Choral educator, Dr. Andrew Withington. These were both challenging and educational for an ensemble already working at a high level. The workshops also enabled Bel Canto to be prepared for their appearance at the ANZAC Day Breakfast at the Palladium where they worked with Normie Rowe…definitely a first for this ensemble. The annual performance program kicked off with Jazz Night. This eclectic mix of music and musicians once again enthralled the audience as they enjoyed their Supper Tea. There were still more than 200 happy audience members at the scheduled close and everyone was reluctant to leave the relaxed atmosphere that this gig engenders. The Jazz Night was a perfect opportunity to present the 2018 Combined Instrumental Tour ensemble as they made final preparations for the trip to China over the Term 1 holidays. This was the fourth tour in conjunction with our fellow musicians from Brighton Grammar School and it was another outstanding success on both a personal and musical level. Cities visited included Hong Kong, Nanjing and Beijing and the group was warmly invited into seven schools over the two weeks. In May, the Big Band travelled to Mt Gambier to attend the Generations in Jazz Festival founded by James Morrison. This annual event is a must for developing Big Bands and the girls achieved their best placing coming 5th out of the 25 bands in their division. They were unlucky not to have a podium finish as they missed third place by just two points.

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Term 3 was monumental for Music as we held the annual Strings Concert at St Andrew’s Church, the Bel Canto High Tea at Brighton Town Hall, the Choral Concert at St Andrew’s and yet another first - the inaugural Supper, Sax and Swing Dinner Dance. This event, hosted by the Friends of Music was an outstanding hit with all who attended. Transforming the CCA into wonderfully atmospheric space was the mastermind of the Friends of Music committee and the bands provided all the dance music one could wish for. The joint was literally jumping!

In October, we moved into our new spaces in the Music Precinct. This wonderfully designed and purpose-built building has wowed all who have had a chance to see it. It will encourage and support young musicians into the foreseeable future. We have held a number of recital events in the spaces already and are so excited about the possibilities they offer. 2018 has been an enjoyable mix of continuing to make excellent music in many settings and the opportunity to do things for the first time and harness possibilities.

FIRBANK TODAY | Dance, Drama and Performing Arts Chicago The Musical | Our students worked and played together, sharing the joys of caring for each other – and they performed on stage too, developing and demonstrating their performance skills. Here is some of Yuzuka Funasaka’s thoughts about how she felt being part of the Senior Musical for the first time. Yuzuka took part of the cast of ‘Chicago’. There is no doubt the musicals that we perform with BGS are a highlight of the Performing Arts experiences. ‘Shrek’ and ‘Chicago’ saw some extraordinary talent from the young artists in both shows, with record numbers of students auditioning and participating both on stage and behind the scenes.

“Chicago was such a worthful experience right from the audition, it made me break out of my comfort zone when I undertook dancing, singing, and acting in the audition. Being in the ensemble was such a unique and enjoyable role as I was busily taking notes as a reporter at one point and in other times I was a sassy glamorous girl flirting with Billy. Little by little I was able to gain confidence as I learned that I’m equally important as the others. Our School Musical acknowledges all of us and lets us all shine on stage. It was an unforgettable experience.”

The introduction of Dance into the curriculum was a big step in promoting the vibrant dance life at Firbank. With our dance specialist, Ms Direen, the Year 10 students who completed VCE Dance Units 1 and 2 were both challenged and rewarded by the hard work and creativity they shared in learning the tools of the choreographer and the dancer. They will be moving into Year 12 Dance next year with another class enrolled to commence their VCE Dance experience in 2019. VCE Drama and Theatre Studies students adore their opportunity to explore and discover how Theatre can contribute to their lives, as they build ongoing awareness of who they are and how to develop their skills as young theatre makers, directors and actors.

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SNOWSPORTS | This year was another great year for SnowSports at Firbank. Once again, we competed in the Victorian Interschools SnowSports Championships, held at Mount Buller with a large number of students in a variety of events, including ski and snowboard alpine events, Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross, Moguls and SlopeStyle. Seven individual students and two teams qualified for Nationals across multiple disciplines which was pleasing. A special congratulations to Mimi Bartels who was awarded the Hayden Trophy which is presented to the Senior student who is placed highest in an Alpine event at the Victorian Interschools. Also, congratulations to Lily Crennan who was awarded the Rogers, Librach and Jones Trophy for the highest ranked student at Nationals. All Firbank students are encouraged to participate in the Firbank SnowSports Team. Thank you to the parents who volunteered both on the mountain and as team managers across the SnowSport season. The support of our Firbank community is greatly appreciated. We are already looking forward to Winter 2019!

Sports | FIRBANK TODAY Sport is an important part of Firbank and we, as a School community, are encouraging our students to be involved and find joy in a range of physical pursuits.

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This year has been another exciting year for Sport at Firbank. Most importantly our participation rates are up across the board with our Netball Club housing more than 33 teams and our basketball team numbers growing too. Rowing numbers are up 50% on last year which is wonderful to see.

There are many attributes of sport that carry over directly into academic success. Resilience, teamwork, individual drive, organisation, concentration and strategic thinking are all elements of sport that cross over to academia. From our PMP activity in ELC right through to our House Sport and GSV in Senior School, Firbank offers students an array of sporting options. All students are encouraged to give-it-a-go and do the best that they can and through this Firbank continues to have success across the board. In addition to our wonderful sports staff, we have a number of elite sportspeople including Jason Cooper (Swimming), James Tomkins OAM (Rowing), Tamsyn Lewis Manou (Athletics), Kimon Taliadoros (Soccer), Elizabeth Howard (Diving), Kathryn Harby-Williams (Netball) and David McGrath (Rowing) who foster a culture of sport at Firbank. These elite sportspeople instil their own passion for sport into our Programs and convey the right attitude and love of sport to our students. This in turn fosters excellence. Next year we look forward to the development of new sporting facilities and grounds across our campuses and even more support for our students both in their individual and team sporting pursuits.

ROWING | Firbankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rowing Program is one of the most successful Schoolgirl Rowing Programs in Australia and under the guidance of our Head Coach, David McGrath, the School is looking to a strong and successful season ahead in 2018/2019. Teamwork is key to rowing success. The Program teaches students high levels of commitment, skill and time management and is synonymous with excellence. The Program has a rich history of participation and we continue to provide students with excellent facilities and equipment. Thank you to the Firbank Rowing Club for their support of the sport and for coming and watching the girls in the Regattas and events in which we take part. There are a number of ways in which you can sponsor our Rowing Program. To receive more details about becoming an Associate Member of the Rowing Club please contact our committee members via the Firbank Grammar website.

FIRBANK TODAY | Junior School: Sandringham

One of the highlights for this year was our whole Campus Musical, ‘The Lion King Jr’. Featuring 200 students from Prep – 6, the production was an amazing display of brilliant singing, acting, staging and costumes. The Musical is held every two years and it is so wonderful to see the whole Campus including students, staff and parents, all working together to achieve a common goal.

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Primary Years Program (PYP) Exhibition The culmination of learning for the Year 6s was on display in Term 4 at the PYP Exhibition. The students were given the opportunity to select how they presented their learning and to share the focus of their learning with the whole Campus and the wider community. Each student researched and presented their own inquiry into the transdisciplinary theme, ‘Who we are’. Year 3 and 4 Sailing As part of their After School Sport program in Term 4, the Year 3 and 4 students took part in a sailing program held at the Sandringham Yacht Club. This unique program at a primary school level, provides for the students to undertake a sport that many of them have never tried before.

Art Show Our students’ artistic talents were on display at the annual Art Show. Every student from ELC 3 to Year 6 had a piece of work displayed. There was a range of media presented and those who saw the exhibit were amazed at the quality of pieces presented.

FIRBANK TODAY Book Week Students delight in the reading of books throughout the year and, in particular, reading and learning about stories that are nominated for the Australian Book Council of the Year Awards. They also enjoy dressing up as a favourite book character and seeing which character their teachers dress up as! National Aerobics Girls from Year 1 through to Year 6 trained hard throughout the year to build their strength and coordination as they prepared initially for the State Aerobics Championships and then the National Championships. The results from the girls reflected a consistent effort and commitment shown by all team members. Three of the four teams who competed at the Nationals were crowned Australian Champions by winning gold medals. Garden to Kitchen Program We have a wonderful veggie patch complete with ‘Chook House’ and ‘Hot House’ which are utilised throughout the year by all age groups but in particular by the Year 4 students for their Kitchen to Garden program. Through this program, the students develop an insight into the importance of healthy eating that can be gained from gardening and cooking. These life skills will also assist the students in developing an appreciation of our natural world. Visiting Chinese schools The Campus was honoured to have two visiting schools from China in Term 3: from Hangzhou Shengli Primary School and Zhenhai Jinochuan Bilingual School. Our boys and girls learned a lot about the culture of China and gained an appreciation and insight into the way in which school takes place in China. National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) We achieved our highest NAPLAN results this year with outstanding results from students in Years 3 and 5, with 100% of students achieving above the National standards in Literacy and 98% of students above the National Standards in Numeracy. Brad Nelsen Head of Campus

SAVE THE DATE 25th Anniversary Sandringham House Friday, 22 March From 5.00 p.m.

FIRBANK TODAY | Junior School: Brighton

We have spoken a lot in Turner House this year about the journey that we are all on, and the twists and turns that provide important markers along the way. As I complete my first year in Turner House as Head of Campus, I reflect on the remarkable events, achievements and members of the community that have made this year so special.

A highlight this year has been collaborating with one of our parents and professional artist, Lydia Ciconte, to visually represent our student’s journey through School in a life-size artwork. Lydia generously gifted this painting to Turner House and we thank her for this beautiful artwork. ‘The Journey’, as it is affectionately known, now has pride of place in Turner House Reception.

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Throughout the year, we have been working to develop and sustain a culture of respect and gender equality and of embracing differing perspectives. Over the course of the year, students, staff and families have engaged in mindfulness, yoga, fitness training, R U OK Day, developing wellness wishes, circle time, the Jamie Oliver Healthy Eating Program and resolving differences through a Restorative Practices approach. At Turner House, we know that a positive school community is one in which relationships are built on kindness, respect and friendship.

In Term 2, we welcomed three students from Milikapiti, an Aboriginal community in the Tiwi Islands. This initiative forms part of our collaborative indigenous immersion program in conjunction with Brighton Grammar School (BGS). In addition, we recently hosted five girls from the Pormpuraaw School on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland. These programs allow us to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in an authentic and respectful way and provides us with opportunities for future links to the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS).

FIRBANK TODAY

Collaboration with the students from BGS plays an important role in our Turner House journey. In particular, the Year 6 combined Musical, ‘Once On This Island’, was a standout in Term 3. Watching the months of rehearsals and the dedicated manner in which more than 170 students approached this experience was a delight and demonstrated the positive outcomes that come from participating in a project of this magnitude. The Year 6 girls have been preparing for their transition into Senior School. The many lessons that they have learned throughout their time at Turner House have ensured a solid foundation for the learning yet to come. Our students are capable, creative and confident in their pursuits which was evident in their spectacular PYP Exhibition, earlier in the year. I am proud of all our girls’ achievements, our staff’s dedication and the ongoing support of our families. Our Brighton Junior School continues to be an exemplar of ‘best practice’ in programs, implementation and care and I look forward to the Learning Journey ahead. Kim Wheeler Head of Campus

FIRBANK TODAY | Parents Associations

SHPA 2018 has been an incredibly successful year for the Sandringham House Parents Association (SHPA), both socially and financially. We have held eight major events including our sparkling ‘Glitter & Gold’ Parent Function and a truly wonderful Circus-themed Kids’ Night. Despite the incredibly wild weather on the day, our Firbank Sandringham Fair was another fabulous success and showcased the adaptability and resilience of our Sandy House community. Other highlights have been our Father’s Day ‘Sandy Cup’ Golf Classic and the ever-popular Book Fair. We would like to thank our amazing Sandy House parent community for all the support you have given us throughout the year and we look forward to bringing you more good times next year.

PATH

2018 has been a successful year for Parents Association Turner House (PATH) during which we organised events which have both friend-raised and fundraised. These include the Welcome Picnic, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day events, International Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, 3 pizza lunches and the Christmas Picnic. Funds raised by PATH included a contribution of $25,000 toward the new playground at Turner House, $6,000 to two new water taps and bottle fillers for the playground and the oval, new gym mats and new netball rings. PATH also subsidises the tickets for Year 6 girls attending the Graduation Dinner and sponsors the Citizenship Prize at Presentation Night. This year PATH formally established a Community Fund. This initiative was implemented followed the tragic death of a parent last year and is intended to provide funds to assist parents, staff and students in times of need. PATH thanks all parents who have attended events that we have run throughout the year as well as all the parents who have volunteered at events, donated prizes and supported our Association. We thank our 2018 members and welcome our 2019 Committee. Thank you to our community for its continued support. We look forward to another great year ahead in 2019.

SSPA

Our Senior School Parents Association (SSPA) have been hard at work in 2018 to support our School. Thank you to all the parents who have assisted attending events and fundraising. This year SSPA raised funds for the purchase of new bbqs and shade umbrellas. We supported our School through the Annual International Women’s Breakfast, Connor’s Run and assisted at numerous events throughout the year. SSPA represent a wonderful connection between our parents and the School. Thank you to all our committee members for their hard work this year and we look forward to welcoming any interested parents to SSPA in 2019.

FIRBANK TODAY Firbank Friends of Dance & Dramatic Arts (FODDA) supports the School’s talented performing arts students.

FODDA

This year, funds were raised through Front of House activities such as running canteens and raffles at events and sponsorship of the inaugural Firbank Broadway Dance & Vocal Workshops. These highly successful workshops run by instructors Derek Mitchell, ‘Hamilton’ Resident West Coast USA Choreographer and Sharona D’Ornellas ,‘In The Heights’ Actor, were followed up with feedback to all Vocal Workshop students by Seth Student – original Hamilton Cast Member. Thank you to our event sponsor Maison Property for your support. FODDAs activities in 2018 included ‘feeding the troupes’, surprising cast and crew with treats during holiday workshops and organising food after school to sustain students through their evening performances. Funds raised this year went towards purchasing staple costumes pieces that will be used by students for years to come as well as purchasing yoga mats and cushions for The Studio. FODDA milestones in 2018 include the appointment of Mary Renouf, former Firbank student and former Australian Ballet Artist as our FODDA Dance Patron; The official launch of The Studio, sponsorship acquisition, delivering the ‘Success In Showbiz’ Broadway Dance & Vocal Workshops; the introduction of the FODDA Contribution and Encouragement Awards; and supporting a bid for Prefect status for the 2019 Dance Captain. All parents are welcome to join FODDA and enquiries can be directed to fodda@firbank.vic.edu.au or via the Firbank website. The 2018 rowing year marked the beginning of a new chapter at the Firbank Rowing Club (FRC) with a new Head Coach, David McGrath and a refreshed and renewed parent committee. The FRC again hosted the Firbank Regatta on the Barwon River which is the main lead up regatta to the Head of Schoolgirls and concludes the rowing season. In addition our gala fundraising night, ‘A Touch of Henley’ was held in February and with Pimms and canapés (in true Henley style) it was a great success. Through the generous support of our sponsors in the FRC Associate Program (Allied Pickfords, Hocking Stuart and PFD Foods) as well as the parents and families who constantly support our activities, we have had a very successful year in terms of fundraising. This year we purchased a quad scull that was christened at the 2018/19 season opener in October the ‘Rachel Thomas’ named after Firbank Grammarians and Australian National representative in rowing.

Friends of Music In 2018, Friends of Music have catered for more than 400 people over two long rehearsals, the High Tea, and the Supper, Sax and Swing night. We have sold snacks and drinks at Twilight Jazz and Chicago, popped over 10kg of popcorn, funded souvenir t-shirts for the China tour, become experts in helium balloon sculptures and along the way made new friends and had a lot of fun. Most importantly, we have had the privilege of listening to our wonderful Firbank musicians, and of supporting the activities of the Music Dept and the staff who give so much to our girls. We’d love to welcome any interested new parents in 2019. Please contact us either via our Facebook page, or email ajncjjasper@ optusnet.com.au

Friends of Rowing 17

FIRBANK TODAY | Annual Giving, List of Donors Firbank Grammar is most grateful for the generous donors who have contributed to our School this year. It is through your ongoing support that we are able to continue to provide exceptional programs and facilities for our students. Your dedication to Firbank is greatly appreciated. Mr and Mrs C Adams Mr and Mrs G Adams Mr and Mrs H Andersson Mr and Mrs J Anson Dr H Arabatzis Mr and Mrs M Armstrong Mr and Mrs I Aspinall Mr and Mrs N Baker Mrs R Barton Mr and Dr S Barwood Mr and Mrs M Bastos Mr J Black and Ms M Ryan Mrs F Blissett and Mr C Blissett Mr and Mrs G Bond Mr and Mrs C Bourke Mr and Mrs J Bredebusch Mr S Briggs and Dr M Rao Mr B Brown and Ms A Jamieson Mrs E Burton Mr and Mrs S Cairns Mrs M Campbell Ms R Campbell Mr P Cantwell Mr S Cao and Mrs X Gao Mr and Mrs S Chamberlin Mr and Mrs T Chapman Mr P Chen and Mrs X Hu Mr L Chen and Ms M Wang Mr J Chen and Ms J Fu Mr G Chen and Ms C Jiang Mr A Cheng and Ms M Loo Mr D Cheung and Dr G Wong Mr and Mrs J Christopoulos Mr and Mrs R Clayfield Mr A David and Ms C Collins Mrs R Congleton Mr and Mrs A Couttie Mr and Mrs A Cox Mr D and Mrs C Crewdson Mrs N Dandie and Mr J Dandie Mr and Mrs M Darras Mr A David and Ms C Collins Mr and Mrs M Davies Mr and Mrs S Ding Mr K Do and Ms L Ngo Mr and Mrs B Dominguez Mr and Mrs S Donald Mr X Dong and Mrs H Ding Mr and Mrs D Edwards Mr N Elston and Ms F Yeo Firbank Old Grammarians Mr S Feehan Mr Q Fang and Mrs H Qin Mr X Feng and Mrs L Song Mr Y Feng and Ms Y Tang Mr and Mrs S Fletcher Mr and Mrs M Forbes Mrs M Gallagher and Mr S Gallagher Mr W Gan and Ms Q Xu Mr G Gedge and Mrs S Adam-Gedge Mr F Gehrig and Ms T Hall Mr and Mrs G Gibbins Mr A Giles Dr and Mrs G Gilligan Mr and Mrs A Ginis Mrs P Griffiths Mr and Mrs A Grooby Mr B Gu and Ms X Hao Mr C Guo and Mrs Y Qi Mr G Guo and Ms J Nie Dr D Hacking and Assoc. Prof J McVernon Mr and Mrs D Hallam Mr J Han and Ms X Niu Mr and Mrs G Hipwell Mrs N Hollings Mr J Mordes and Ms L Howard Mr C Howison and Ms K Saes Mr L Hu and Mrs Q Hou Mr Y Hu and Ms Y Fu 18

Mr and Ms S Humphris Mr and Mrs P Ickeringill Mrs P Ilhan Mr and Mrs B Jennings Mr M Jennings and Mrs A Villanti-Jennings Mr F Jian and Ms B Zhao Mr F Jiang and Mrs H He Mr X Jiang and Mrs Y Fu Mr and Mrs D Johnson Mr and Mrs K Johnstone Mr and Mrs B Jordan Mr and Ms B Kabengele Mr and Mrs M Kakaras Mr P Kelly and Ms A Foran Mr A Kenwood Mr and Mrs J Klintberg Mr M Kobelt and Ms B Jeun Mr and Mrs A Kulesza Mr and Mrs B Landy Mr P Lazar and Dr H Tatsis Mr and Mrs C Leonard Mr & Mrs P Lewinsky Mr J Lin and Ms M Chen Ms W Lin Mr C Link Mr X Liu and Mrs H Fei Mr B Liu and Ms X Dai Mr T Liu and Ms J Chen Mr and Mrs T Lopreiato Ms C Louw and Mr J Louw Mr K Luo and Ms X Guan Mr H Luu and Mrs T Carlos-Luu Mr A Lynch and Ms P Williams Mr R and Mrs P Lyons Mr and Mrs S Maher Mr and Mrs P Mastos Mr and Mrs D Matthews Mr and Mrs M McConnell Dr and Dr R McDonald Ms J McIlveney and Ms E Smith Ms O McIntyre and Mr N Madanayake Miss C McIvor Mr J McKenna and Mrs S Sowa McKenna Mr S McVilly Mr T Mellas Mr Y Meng and Mrs Y Liu Mrs P Mews and Mr C Mews Mr H Mi and Mrs J Dai Mr and Mrs J Moller Mr H Morales and Ms J Wang Mr J Mordes and Ms L Howard Mr M Morley and Ms C Cook Dr P Mottram and Dr C Leembruggen Mrs S Muir Dr J Mulder and Ms N Vaughan Mr B Neagle Mr and Mrs C Nethercott Mr D Nguyen and Mrs T Pham Mrs R Nicholson and Mr M Nicholson Mr T Noble and Ms B Koeninger Mr and Mrs K Nomoto Mr Y Pan and Ms N Wu Parents Association Turner House Mr R and Mrs J Patrick Mrs E Pearse and Mr K Pearse Dr J Peters Dr P Phair Mr M Piccolo and Ms G Cilia Mr and Mrs S Pitard Mr and Mrs G Pitsaris Mr and Mrs A Portelli Mr M Qin and Mrs J Wang Mr M and Mrs B Quill Mr and Ms A Raper Mr and Mrs E Rathmayr Prof C Rees-Sidhu and Mr R Sidhu Mr and Mrs A Rentaris Mr I Roe and Ms J Lulevska Mr P and Mrs J Ross

Mr and Mrs J Ross Mr and Mrs L Ross Mr and Ms T Sakata Sandringham House Parents Association Mr and Mrs R Scacco Mr and Mrs A Scholten Senior School Parents Association Mrs T Shand AM Mr J Shen Mr and Mrs C Shepard Mr and Mrs C Sheppard Mr D Shi and Mrs Q He Mr and Mrs M Skocic Mr and Mrs G Smith Mr O Smith and Ms E Stevens Mr and Mrs S Smith Mr K Sorataworn and Miss C Ekkittibutr Mr L Speck and Mrs C Hannay Mr and Mrs R Stark Mrs G Steenbhom Assoc. Prof C Rodda and Prof E Storey Mrs W Sturrock Mr C Sun and Mrs M Cui Mrs T Sun Mr and Mrs C Suszko Mrs S Taft and Dr L Taft Mr A Tan and Ms W Lee Mr Z Tang and Mrs J Chen Mr and Ms K Tangjitrmaneesakda Mr and Mrs K Tawada Mr and Mrs C Telford Mr and Ms Y Teraki Dr and Dr E Terzic Mr and Dr M Theuma Dr P and Mrs F Thomas Mr Y Tian Mr and Ms C Trend Mr and Mrs B Turner Mr and Mrs W Vautin Mr and Mrs D Waller Mr M Walter Mr H Wang and Mrs Y Yang Mr Y Wang and Ms J Wu Mr Y Wang and Ms F Chuang Mr S Wang and Mrs Z Li Mr Y Wang and Ms T Chen Assoc. Prof D Webster Mr R Whelan and Mrs R Nguyen Mr and Mrs R Whitehouse Ms J Williams Mr C Williams and Ms M Wang Dr D Williamson and Mrs J Hooker Mr G Wu and Mrs B Chen Mr Q Wu and Ms J Liang Mr P Wu and Mrs Y Deng Mr D Wynne and Ms M Iitake Mr H Xu and Ms L Ma Mr J Yang and Ms Y Shen Mr Y Yang and Ms R Huang Mr X Yang and Mrs L Li Mr Y Yao and Ms L Chen Ms P Zhai and Mr W Sun Mr X Zhang and Mrs F Wang Mr C Zhang and Ms P Wu Mr N Zhang and Ms D Hu Ms C Zhang Mr and Mrs L Zhang Mr X Zhao and Mrs M Zhang Mr A Zheng and Ms X Tang Mr H Zheng and Ms Y Zhang Mr H Zhou and Mrs H Mao Mr W Zhou and Mrs Y Ma Mr C Zhou and Ms C Yang Mr H Zhou and Ms J Yang Mr G Zhu and Ms L Qiang Mr J Zhu and Mrs J Chen Mr B Zhu and Ms L Jin Mr J Zhu and Mrs Y Zhang Dr E Zilberg and Mrs M Vassiliouk

FOGA | FIRBANK ALUMNI Recently I was asked to speak at the Class of 2018 Year 12 student’s Valedictory Dinner and welcome them to the Firbank Old Grammarians Association (FOGA). I was honoured to be able to address the girls on this special occasion.

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As part of this welcome I wanted the girls to understand what it means to be a member of FOGA. When asked to prepare my article for the Green Gold and White this year, I reflected that it is not only the current Year 12s who perhaps do not know much about FOGA or what is means to be a member of FOGA. As such, I considered it appropriate to share with the Firbank Community the words that I delivered to the girls at the Valedictory Dinner. I want you to imagine the following: The Governor of Victoria, novelist, Olympian, scientist, surgeon, engineer, architect, opera singer, doctor, actor, university professor, journalist, teacher, urban planner, artist, wine maker, politician, dancer, nurse, school principal, mountaineer, barrister and stand-up comedian. What do these women have in common? They are all members of an elite association that was established 100 years ago. This Association is FOGA. FOGA has over 7,000 members. As I’ve said before, our members stretch beyond the gates that have swung wide: past North Road, South Road, and Nepean Highway, across Melbourne, Victoria, interstate and overseas. As you plan for your future you can look forward to always being a FOGA member.

IMPORTANT DATES FOGA 2019 February & November FOGA Ramble April & October Film Night

I’m sure the women I previously mentioned, at the time, just like you now, were wondering what lies ahead. Please draw comfort from the knowledge that you will always be part of the Firbank family as you are now a FOGA member for life’.

Sunday, 17 March Afternoon Tea

We welcome all our members to FOGA events, and we encourage members to get in touch with the committee if they would like to become involved with the committee or support the committee in any of its events or activities.

Friday, 22 March Back to Sandringham Reunion

I look forward to seeing our members at an event in the near future. Anna Borthwick President - FOGA To update your details go to: firbank.vic.edu.au

Friday, 3 May Annual Lunch Sunday, 12 May Church Service Friday, 15 August FOGA Networking Breakfast

60 Year | Class of 1958

20 Years | Class of 1999 Friday, 26 July 10 Years | Class of 2009 Friday, 11 October 5 Years | Class of 2014 Friday, 6 September

50 Year | Class of 1968

45 Year | Class of 1973 20

FIRBANK ALUMNI

40 Year | Class of 1978

35 Year | Class of 1983

30 Year | Class of 1988 25 Year | Class of 1993

FIRBANK ALUMNI | Reunions

20 Year | Class of 1998

15 Year | Class of 2003

10 Year | Class of 2008

FIRBANK ALUMNI

5 Year | Class of 2013

FOGA | Business Breakfast

FIRBANK NEWS | Congratulations Current Students

Nicole Moshidis

Congratulations to Nicole Moshidis (Year 8) who has been accepted into the prestigious Australian Ballet School’s full time program (Level 4) in 2019. The Australian Ballet School accepts less than 10 girls into Level 4 each year following an extensive national audition process. We wish Nicole all the best as she pursues her passion for dance. (Photo credit @marscreative)

Janis Yu

Congratulations to Studio Arts student, Janis Yu, whose 3metre long photograph and wire figures are on exhibition as part of this year’s Top Arts exhibition that opened this week at the National Gallery of Victoria. Janis’s work is one of only 54 works that were selected from over 2500 applications from A or A+ students from all over Victoria.

Chloe Shieh debut BOZAR Brussels Belgium

Congratulations to Chloe Shieh who recently headed to Brussels to perform at the Bozar Centre for Fine arts. Chloe came third in the international 2018 Brussels Grand Prize Virtuoso Awards and was invited to play at the ceremony.

Fast Track Singing Showcase

Congratulations to Brighton Senior School student, Elizabeth Gordon-Saker who made it into the Grand Final of the Fast Track 2018 singing competition.

Kamin Tangjitrmaneesakda

Kamin Tangjitrmaneesakda in Year 12 was announced as a finalist in the Arts Achievement Award, a section of the Victorian Global Learning Awards. Only two international students applied for these awards, so it was very exciting that Kamin was selected.

Leticia Phillips

Congratulations to Brighton Senior School student, Leticia Phillips who scooped up a Major Bursary at the Science Talent Search Awards.

April Macdonald

April was a Major Bursary winner for her Science Talent Search entry. April donated her prize to the South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter.

Ashley Yu

Congratulations on being selected as one of the state representatives of the Victorian SRC.

FIRBANK NEWS Katie Yang

Katie Yang, Year 10 represented Firbank in Chess at the Secondary School Girls competition. Katie won a silver medal in the Championship.

Millie Dogar-Hurd

Congratulations to Milli Dogar-Hurd, Year 8 who was selected from hundreds of applicants to be a soloist at the Bayside Carols in the Park. This is part of Bayside’s Rising Stars Program.

Champions for the 16th time

Congratulations to our Firbank Diving Team who continued their amazing success in the Pool. The team won the Division 1 GSV championship for the 16th consecutive year maintaining Firbank’s unbeaten record.

Victorian Relay Champions

Well done to our U/18 Medley relay team of Annabelle Holman, Madison Bodey, Tiana Scheirs and Sophie Bolmat. The team showed great dedication and teamwork and won the gold medal at the Victorian All Schools Relay Championships.

Soccer Premiers

Firbank’s Senior Soccer Team were the GSV Premiership winners for the 2nd consecutive year this year and our Junior C Soccer Team also won its GSV Premiership. Well done to all the girls on this wonderful sporting achievement.

Bridie Hipwell

Congratulations to Bridie Hipwell who was selected to represent Victoria in the AFL at the National Schools Championships this year.

National Trampolining Qualifiers

Three Firbank students qualified in the 2018 National Trampolining Championships. Congratulations to Phoebe Kakaras, Alyssa Calcatjicos and Xanthe Kakaras.

FIRBANK NEWS | Congratulations, Condolences, Welcome CONDOLENCES

Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to the family and friends of the following Old Grammarians:

CONGRATULATIONS

100 YEARS YOUNG Doreen Jackson (Peer Year 1936) Congratulations to Doreen Jackson who celebrated her 100th Birthday on 11 February 2018 Doreen is pictured (above circled) with her friend Nancy, who she remained friends with for 90 years until Nancy passed away. What a demonstration of the life-long connections that our students make! Doreen has two Great Grandchildren who are current Firbank students.

Jill Crane (Heron 1941) On 2 October 2018 Peer Year 1958 Denise Seeley (Healey 1944) On 30 September 2018 Peer Year 1962 Kristen Mace (1998) On 1 September 2018 Peer Year 2016 Barbara Goldner (Worth 1938) On 28 August 2018 Peer Year 1956 Nicole Lanyon (1973) On 12 July 2018 Peer Year 1991 Eva Cohen (Vogel 1933) On 20 June 2018 Peer Year 1951

Caitlyn Witherington (Ellis 2008) married Andrew Witherington on 7 October 2017.

Emma Corcoran (Dore 1976) On 17 May 2018 Peer Year 1994 Joy Piercy (Lighton 1932) On 29 March 2018 Peer Year 1950 Joyce (Edith) Williams (Wilson 1927) On 23 March 2018 Peer Year 1945

Sarah Watts (Thoms 2001) married James Watts on 28 October 2017. Attending Sarah, were fellow Alumni Alison Dudfield (2001) and Katrina Eady ne Prince (2001) 26

Valerie Pearce (Simons 1927) On 10 March 2018 Peer Year 1945

FIRBANK NEWS WELCOME Angela Mitchell (Polkinghorne 1934) On 1 February 2018 Peer Year 1951 Margaret Levin (Grover 1941) On 25 January 2018 Peer Year 1958 Brenda (Bebe) Rose Marshall (Denton 1938) On 20 January 2018 Peer Year 1954 Wendy McNabb (Hollins 1935) On 18 January 2018 Peer Year 1952

Brooke Picken (McNamee 1997) and husband Doug welcomed James Thomas on 15 February 2018

Margaret Robertson (Skues 1941) On 1 January 2018 Peer Year 1958 Margaret Cornwell (Newman 1930) On 19 October 2017 Peer Year 1948 Rosemarie Macdougall (Baenziger 1936) On 29 August 2017 Peer Year 1953 Mary Leuwin Harrison (Comport 1922) On 5 August 2017 Peer Year 1938 Margaret O’Dell ( Robertson 1936) On 30 July 2017 Peer Year 1953 Wendy Armstrong (Hall-Kenney 1961) On 24 July 2017 Peer Year 1978 Dr Suzanne Llewellyn-Jones (Abraham 1943) On 15 March 2016 Peer Year 1961

Sally McPheely (Christie 2004) and husband Gregg welcomed Beckham Brian on 14 March 2018. Beckham was born in Atlanta, USA, where Gregg and Sally live.

Firbank loves sharing our community’s news, achievements and notable events. Please forward your news and an accompanying photo to communications@firbank.vic.gov.au We look forward to hearing from you. 27

FIRBANK NEWS | Jo Field

This year Firbank farewelled Jo Field who made a substantial contribution to the School community during her 19 years of service as Deputy Principal, Head of Senior School and as a respected teacher. Jo came to Firbank in 1999 with a wealth of leadership experience and was a valuable addition to our School. In 2004, Jo was appointed to the position of Acting Principal and then again in 2016. In her time as Acting Principal, Jo made several significant and positive decisions that were crucial to Firbank’s future, including implementing the recommendation to introduce the Primary Years Program of the International Baccalaureate. Jo also started the Firbank Learning and Innovation Centre and was in charge of IT for many years. She made sure in the early days of IT that Firbank was at the forefront of new technology.

Jo is respected by students and staff alike because of her approachable, fun and commanding nature. Jo’s philosophy is that everyone has something really valuable to offer and she wanted the students to be strong, happy, healthy, self-confident women. Under her guidance, as Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School, she promoted stronger leadership roles in the student population and was integral to the implementation of the Student Representative Council.

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Firbank is grateful for everything that Jo Field accomplished during her long and distinguished career and we wish her all the best in her retirement.

FIRBANK NEWS

#jointheconversation

Principal Jenny Williams and Head of Sandringham Coed Campus Mr Brad Nelsen at a Rememberance Day Ceremony today together with our students. #lestweforget #firbankgrammarschool

Congratulations to our 2018 Prefects Netball team who defeated their counterparts at BGS in the big netball game on the last day of Term 3. The spectator support was enourmous and so encouraging for Team Firbank. #GoTeamFirbank #firbankgrammarschool #firbank2018

The Firbank First 8 and Second 8 competing at the Head of The Yarra this morning! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 8.6k time trial. With 260 crews racing from Princes Bridge to Hawthorn. #firbankgrammarschool #firbankrowing #goteamfirbank

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Congratulations to our Brighton Junior School students April (Year 1) Jolene and Charlotte (Year 5) and Maddie and Emily (Year 3) who were presented with awards at the recent Science Talent Search Award Ceremony. #FirbankGrammar2018 #FirbankScience

The Preps at our Sandringham Coeducational Campus became wild explorers at the Melbourne Zoo. The Zoo School was a highlight, where students spent time in the garden and classroom and met Patch the snake. #FirbankGrammar2018 #FirbankSandringhamCoed #zoofun

Firbank Class of 2003 - Where has the time gone? Come back to Firbank on 19 October 2018, for your 15 year reunion, catch up with friends and have a look around the school. To book visit trybooking.com/XPNB #firbankgrammarschool #FirbankReunion