Community Report: AGM Edition For the year ended �� December ���� Southern Cross Grammar A Company Limited by Guarantee ACN 149 437 276 Registered Office and Principal Place of Business 2-20 Lancefield Drive Caroline Springs Victoria 3023
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CONTENTS OUR SCHOOL | 6 LEADERSHIP | 10 FINANCE | 12 FACILITIES | 18 THE CENTAURI CENTRE | 20 UPGRADES AND EXPANSIONS | 24 OUR STUDENTS | 38 2021 VCE RESULTS | 40 NAPLAN RESULTS | 48 STUDENTS’ SUCCESS | 52 STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE | 56 OUR STAFF | 62
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PRINCIPAL’S STATEMENT Teams that work together often take on a collective character. The SCG team, throughout 2021, can only be described as collectively composed, intentional, and responsibly ambitious.
MATT DODD PRINCIPAL
Facing down the uncertainty and extra demands of a second year of the pandemic, each Board member, leader, support staff, teacher, and family played their part to lift the school through these challenging times with distinction. Activities routinely had to be rescheduled to ensure our commitment to our students remained focused on a full program of social, physical, and academic learning.
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A number of sporting, outdoor education, and performing arts events went ahead to the great benefit of our community. Performances such as the Autumn Concert were elevated to new levels of importance and appreciation as parents, students, and staff enjoyed any opportunity to gather safely to celebrate community and student achievement.
2021 will without doubt be another time in our school’s proud history which will be described as a point of pride and measure of our community’s resilience and capacity.
2021 will no doubt be another time in our school’s proud history which will be described as a point of pride and measure of our community’s resilience and capacity.
In the background, the Centauri Centre rose from the ground and took shape before our eyes. This proved to be a beacon of optimism and evidence of better times ahead for everyone involved in the SCG community. With the end of the year placing all back in various lockdowns, our strong and compassionate community once again came together to rise to the challenges and adapted to the ever-changing and unpredictable environment beyond the school gates. Despite this, levels of achievement in NAPLAN, school rankings, and the Class of 2021 showed that these efforts bore great rewards with records broken
in many areas of the school.
The SCG team, throughout 2021, can only be described as collectively composed, intentional, and responsibly ambitious. 2021 will without doubt be another time in our school’s proud history which will be described as a point of pride and measure of our community’s resilience and capacity.
greater opportunities for our students and community. Gratitude and a great sense of collective achievement will be the endearing feelingS we take from this time. My thanks and admiration to all contributors, both big and small, who helped deliver the positive results captured and summarized in the annual report for 2021.
Once again, we have come together, maintained our composure, and been intentional and adaptive to deliver even
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SCG COMMUNITY REPORT OUR SCHOOL 2021 COMMUNITY REPORT • 6
Our S
SCG COMMUNITY REPORT OUR SCHOOL
chool
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Officially opened in July 2011, Southern Cross Grammar (SCG) is a vibrant, Foundation–Year 12 school focused on maximising the learning of every member in our school community. Founded in the 21st century, we have modern, up-to-date facilities, teaching and learning practices.
With a capacity to balance traditional approaches with contemporary ideas supported by latest research, we are committed to selecting the best methods to suit our students’ needs. Our students enjoy the liberal curriculum and variety of opportunities we provide. The facilities, the overall size of the school and the way we teach, all support our focus on the care and knowledge of each individual. We maintain a commitment to providing personalised learning experiences for all our students. Our students, parents and staff enjoy a deep sense of belonging as part of a strong community. This high level of care and inclusion forms an integral part of our students’ high performance in their studies.
Our Vision Southern Cross Grammar was founded on the concepts of New Generation and a Student Centred Vision. As the school continues to grow and evolve, so too has the interpretation of our founding concepts. We have taken the very best parts of New Generation Learning and our Student Centred Vision to showcase our healthy foundations and the exciting directions our school is heading towards in 2021 and beyond as a modern, high performing and personalised school.
SCG provides a variety of pathways to excellence by adopting a personal approach to recognising and developing each student’s personal strengths. In addition to national sporting representation, awards for citizenship and general academic achievement, the school has introduced, from 2021 an exciting select entry pathway for Music and STEM at Year 7. Our students enjoy learning beyond the classroom, in local and international settings. We enjoy the teamwork and competition of house and regional sports, and the cultural and academic challenges that allow students to test their abilities at a school, local or national level. We have a clear vision for our school and remain committed to an intimate, small student population, with a modern and impressive campus supported by high performing and caring staff. Together, we have shown great resilience and an ability to build positive futures with our community. We are confident that we are well-placed to continue to provide a highly personalised and impactful experience for our families into the future.
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SOUTHERN CROSS GRAMMAR LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP
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SCG COMMUNITY REPORT
Southern Cross Grammar is a company limited by guarantee. Officially opened in July 2011 in the presence of Mr Zig Inge and the Inge group, Mr Michael Daly and the founding Board of Directors, Southern Cross Grammar has thrived, building a high performing, modern, and personalised school for families seeking a quality education in Melbourne’s West. The Current Principal, Mr Matthew Dodd, with the support and guidance of the Acting Board Chair, Mr Nathan Fosnaugh, and the Board of Directors continues to honour the school’s proud foundations and history while remaining committed to the continual improvement the school has become known for. Working alongside Mr Dodd are a team of highly experienced senior staff who make up the Executive Team.
MATTHEW DODD PRINCIPAL
PRUE PETSINIS HEAD OF PRIMARY
ANTHONY CLARK
DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES
JENNIFER TURNER DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE
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SCG COMMUNITY REPORT FINANCE
FINANCE
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As a not-for-profit organisation which has completed ten full calendar years of operation, Southern Cross Grammar has strong business practices in place and is managed in an effective and compliant manner. Our Finances indicate the categories of income and expenditure for the 2021 calendar year. Southern Cross Grammar is a not-for-profit organisation and has strong business practices in place to ensure that its finances are managed in an effective, efficient and compliant manner.
EXPENDITURE FEES: 50%
Leading into our 10th year of operations, the school has consistently practised sound financial stewardship and management, delivering surpluses for each financial year. These surpluses are applied to facility development and to improvements in educational resources and services.
GRANTS: 48% OTHER: 2%
Fees Fees Grants Grants Other Other
The charts indicate the categories of income and expenditure for the 2021 calendar year.
INCOME
Education
EMPLOYMENT: 75%Education CORPORATE: 8% Property PROPERTY: 10% EDUCATION: 7%
Property
Corporate Corporate
Empl oymen Empl oym
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SCG 10 YEARS STRONG On 18 July 2021, we marked our tenth year of operation. As is the Southern Cross Grammar tradition to acknowledge the legacies of those who have come before us, we are thankful to the Inge family’s significant contribution in relaunching our school under the current banner of Southern Cross Grammar and their support over the years as we have grown and established ourselves as a strong and highly respected school in our community. We also thank the many people in our community who have had the honour of stewardship in leading educational thought and the formation of the school including Board members and the first parents who trusted Southern Cross Grammar in its foundation years with their children. In marking our tenth year, we were privileged to speak with Mr Peter Inge, son of Mr Zig Inge; foundation families, staff, and students; community leaders; and current Principal, Mr Matt Dodd, on the school’s growth over the years to its highly respected position in the community.
READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH MR PETER INGE IN THE 2021 YEARBOOK: SCG 10 YEARS STRONG: AN INTERVIEW WITH MR PETER INGE
Mr Zig Inge plants the Inge tree on campus. The tree has grown and blossomed in tandem with our school over the years. SCG's Official Opening, Monday 18 July 2011. 2021 COMMUNITY REPORT • 15
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SUPPORTING POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE RESILIENCE PROJECT 2021 marked our first year of a wholeschool approach to wellbeing. In March, we introduced our partnership with The Resilience project to support positive outcomes for our community. As part of launching The Resilience Project at Southern Cross Grammar we were fortunate to have Martin Heppell, Partner and Facilitator at The Resilience Project, spend a week with students, staff and parents. In his sessions with the community, Martin introduced the concept of GEM (Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfullness), and its benefits in improving wellbeing and resilience.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RESILIENCE PROJECT IN THE SCG MAGAZINE: SUPPORTING POSITIVE STEPS
During the parent launch of The Resilience Project, parents were empowered with strategies to support their mental health and wellbeing. 2021 COMMUNITY REPORT • 17
SCG COMMUNITY REPORT OUR FACILITIES
Our Fac In a session with METS performance, VCE Physical Education students investigated the biometrics of peak performance in sport, in the Sports Science Centre. They recorded and discussed metrics including lactic acid, respiration and carbon dioxide levels, and heart rate as part of their studies.
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SCG COMMUNITY REPORT OUR FACILITIES
cilities
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THE CENTAURI CENTRE
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THE CENTAURI CENTRE
SCG COMMUNITY REPORT
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CENTAURI PROJECT
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Described as a “quantum step forward” for our community, the Centauri Project has been taking shape on our campus having broken ground in late 2020.
Through lockdowns, remote learning, staggered returns to site, and the uncertainty of the pandemic, the building has been a beacon of hope to our community for brighter days ahead. We look forward to launching the Centre to our community in 2022 and experience the opportunities this amazing resource will provide generations of students for years to come.
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UPGRADES AND EXPANSIONS
UPGRADES AN
SCG COMMUNITY REPORT
UPGRADES AND EXPANSIONS
ND EXPANSIONS
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SCG COMMUNITY REPORT
WATCH OUR 2021 MIDDLE SCHOOL UPGRADES VIDEO
Breaking ground on the Centauri Project in 2020 allowed us to reimagine our current facilities and expand our offerings in STEM, with the introduction of new state-of-the-art laboratories fit for Senior Biology and Senior Chemistry classes and launch a Sports Science Centre. 2021 COMMUNITY REPORT • 26
In 2021 we further elevated our offerings in the Middle School Building by further re-imagining the current spaces to include a Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory in collaboration with Professor Neena Mitter and her team of scientists from the University of Queensland, Engineering Laboratory, and a double-sized STEM Makers Room. Together with the Senior Biology and Chemistry spaces, they form our new STEM Precinct. Alongside this, on the first floor of the Middle School building, we refurbished and redesigned Year 7 area to include a beautiful Year 7 Hub which has been celebrated amongst students and staff, and efubrished classrooms with flexible furniture for learning, and multimedia and audiovisual resources.
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STEM PRECINCT With state-of-the-art spaces and equipment for students and staff to work and learn, our STEM Precinct elevates the school’s commitment to fostering students’ ambition for high performance in STEM. The STEM Precinct consists of our Senior Biology and Chemistry Labs (all built and designed in 2020); Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory in collaboration with Professor Neena Mitter and her team from the University of Queensland; Engineering Laboratory, and a double-sized STEM Makers Room (2021). The 2020 laboratory upgrades formed the first stage of expanding our overall STEM offerings and facilities. During the 2021 summer break, we transformed our art room and music room (on the ground floor) into a double-sized STEM Makers room with a 3D printer, laser cutter, and ceramic printer. Our second music room and STEM room was also merged into our now extensive Engineering Laboratory, with soldering stations and personal fume hoods, to support our Engineering pathways program, more specifically, Units 1 and 2 Systems Engineering.
ENGINEERING LABORATORY LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR STEM PRECINCT IN THE SCG MAGAZINE: PRECINCT ELEVATES STEM AMBITION
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STEM MAKERS ROOM 2021 COMMUNITY REPORT • 29
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PLANT TISSUE CULTURE LABORATORY IN THE SCG MAGAZINE: PROPAGATING POSITIVE FUTURES
PLANT TISSUE CULTURE LABORATORY In 2021, we announced our partnership with renowned Professor, Professor Neena Mitter, and her team of incredible scientists from the University of Queensland to design a plant tissue culture laboratory as part of our STEM upgrades. Professor Mitter and her team made headlines in June 2021 after successfully completing the world-first restock trial that saw 500 avocado trees created from a single millimetre cutting. During the 2021 summer break, our staff worked closely with Professor Mitter and her team to design, build, and source equipment for the laboratory including a Laminar flow hood. The Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory follows our suite of state-of-the-art resources and specialised environments for learning, often unique to universities and institutions of higher learning and research. The Laboratory is located in the STEM Precinct, beside the STEM Makers Room.
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YEAR 7 HUB The Year 7 Hub is as vibrant as it is welcoming. Completed during the 2021 summer break, the flexible nature of the Hub with its dynamic furniture for socialising, collaboration, and learning has been a highlight for students and staff. Students have enjoyed using the Hub as an extension of their classroom to study, collaborate, and complete projects; and as an extension of our grounds to socialise with their friends during break times and after school.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE YEAR 7 HUB IN THE SCG MAGAZINE: A SPACE FOR CONNECTION
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YEAR 7 CLASSROOM First floor, Middle School Building
CLASSROOM UPGRADES In 2020, we trialled university style, flexible learning tutorial spaces to give teachers greater choice on how to teach depending on the content they were delivering to students, and give students greater freedoms to collaborate and receive lessons. Following the overwhelming success we had with this model, we upgraded the furniture in all Middle School building classrooms to include designer flexible furniture for learning.
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DOUBLE SPACED CLASSROOM Ground floor, Middle School Building
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STAFF LOUNGE At Southern Cross Grammar we enjoy a community of high calibre staff who are leaders in education, thought, and in their own communities. In 2021 we upgraded our previous staff room to a spacious and dynamic Staff Lounge with beautiful furniture and finishes. The Staff Lounge’s layout and furniture makes the area a flexible space for holding meetings, connecting and socialising, and completing focused work. Filled with natural light and vibrant indoor plants, with views of the lush trees that surround our campus site from the large windows, the Staff Lounge is both a calming and productive space for our staff to work and enjoy.
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SCG COMMUNITY REPORT OUR STUDENTS 2021 COMMUNITY REPORT • 38
Our Stu
SCG COMMUNITY REPORT OUR STUDENTS
udents
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2021 VCE RESULTS
2021 VCE
SCG COMMUNITY REPORT
2021 VCE RESULTS
RESULTS
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SCG COMMUNITY REPORT
Having led our school and actively contributed to their communities with distinction, the Class of 2021 have emerged as ambitious graduates ready for the diverse pathways and bright futures life has to offer. With 45% of students scoring an ATAR of 80 and above, an SCG record-breaking ATAR of 99.6, and 100% of VCE students who sat their exams successful at securing an offer to tertiary studies, we are proud of their achievements in their VCE exams. Beyond ATARs and Study Scores, the Class of 2021 stand out for their ambition to contribute positively to their communities through their careers from the science and health pathways, to art, design and legal studies. We are proud of the Class of 2021 and their overcoming significant challenges to persevere and perform at such a high standard. We wish them every success as they embark on the next chapter of their lives as SCG Alumni.
DAN MAI MAKES SCG HISTORY
MAKING BRAIN WAVES IN PSYCHOLOGY
Dan Mai achieved an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 99.6, the highest ATAR at Southern Cross Grammar to date, and was the DUX of 2021.
Year 11 students, Olivia Alexandar, Tehya Clarke-Oldani and Zara Woollard scored Study Scores of 40 and above in Psychology, following the trajectory of female students’ high performance in the subject and in STEM.
Having joined our school in 2012, Dan is a talented musician, academic and leader in his own right. Following his VCE success, Dan secured his place at the University of Melbourne with plans to study Biomedicine and join scientists to build a better world for all.
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Olivia, Tehya, and Zara’s high performance speaks to the importance of young women and female leaders in STEM, and comes at an pivotal time for the science discipline with advances in neuroscience and technology leading to a more sophisticated understanding of the brain and its influence on human behaviour.
JOANNE VUU’S AMBITION TO MAKE CHANGE Joanne Vuu’s ambition, creativity, and academic aptitude has made her one of our high performers at SCG. She continued her trajectory of high performance in the 2021 VCE exams, achieving an impressive ATAR of 96.9 and cementing her place in SCG’s top three highest achievers. Joanne is now studying a Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne.
ANISH SOARS THE SKIES Having received his solo flying certificate in 2019 and scoring an ATAR of 95.6 with an exceptional Study Score of 42 in Physics, Anish Davuluri is preparing to study a Bachelor of Aviation at Swinburne University with plas to become a commercial pilot. Studying the Bachelor of Aviation takes Anish’s childhood ambition to be a pilot a step closer after also receiving his solo flying certificate in 2019, at aged 15, giving him the freedom to operate an aircraft without an instructor present. Anish is looking forward to making the most of the networks in his course, more specifically with CAE Oxford Aviation Academy and its many industry connections and cadet programs with airlines such as Qantas and Jetstar.
EARLY VCE CHALLENGE BOOSTS VCE SUCCESS
FINDING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS IN STEM
Having taken on the challenge of completing his first VCE exam in Year 11 to great success, Samy Assafiri remained unwavering in his focus during his final year and achieved an ATAR of 97.4, making him the 2021 Dux Proxime Accessit (Second to DUX).
A skilled artist with an aptitude for STEM, Olivia Capitanio secured her place at Monash University’s Bachelor of Engineering and Pharmaceutical Science.
Following his academic achievement, Samy accepted an offer to study a Bachelor of Law and Commerce at Monash University.
Described as a double degree both unique in Australia and rare worldwide, Olivia’s studies will place her at the forefront of drug development and large-scale production in the pharmaceutical industry in her future career. Olivia looks forward to applying the creative and solution-based skills from her art practice to her STEM studies and future career.
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2021 VCE RESULTS SUMMARY
100%
TOP OF CLASS
45%
ACCOUNTING
CHEMISTRY
ENGLISH
PHYSICS
PSYCHOLOGY
FURTHER MATHEMATICS
VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN
LEGAL STUDIES
HISTORY REVOLUTIONS
STUDIO ARTS
MATHEMATICAL METHODS
MUSIC PERFORMANCE
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
SPECIALIST MATHEMATICS
of students received their VCE Certificate.
of students scored an ATAR of 80 and above.
75.35
was the 2021 media ATAR.
9.6%
of Study Scores were 40 or above.
30%
of Study Scores were 35 or above.
28
study scores of 40 and above were achieved in the VCE exams
APPLIED COMPUTING: DATA ANALYTICS
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
TOP PATHWAYS FOR THE CLASS OF 2021
BUSINESS
COMMERCE
BIOMEDICINE
LAW
100%
of students who completed a scored VCE at their exams received a university offer
SCIENCE
2020 2021 COMMUNITY COMMUNITY REPORT REPORT •• 44 44
ARTS
ENGINEERING
AVIATION
TOP STUDENT PERFORMERS STUDY SCORES OF 40 AND ABOVE YEAR 11
ATAR OF 90 AND ABOVE Dan Mai
99.6
Olivia Alexander
Psychology
Samy Assafiri
97.4
Tehya Clarke-Oldani
Psychology
Joanne Vuu
96.9
Victoria Skrekovski
Applied Computing: Data Analytics
Antonio Magro
Applied Computing: Data Analytics
Yuvraj Bhargav
96.1
Zara Woollard
Psychology
Anish Davuluri
95.6
Muhammad Rabbani
95.1
Adam Eldaly
94.4
Hannah Merry
93.2
Atman Parikh
92.7
YEAR 12 Samy Assafiri
Accounting and English
Yuvraj Bhargav
Further Mathematics and Legal Studies
Ruben Boermans
English
Olivia Capitanio
Studio Arts
Olivia Capitanio
92.35
Anish Davuluri
Physics
Tomai Laspas
92.35
Adam Eldaly
Accounting and Physical Education
Ruben Boermans
91.9
Kayla Jones
Visual Communication Design
Callum Weir
91.9
Tomai Laspas
Psychology
Alex Banovksi
90.35
Dan Mai
Chemistry, English, Mathematical Methods, Music Performance, Specialist Mathematics
Doreen Lee
90.25
Hannah Merry
History Revolutions
Rajveer Singh
Business Management
Aditi Sinha
Business Management
Joanne Vuu
English, Further Mathematics, and Visual Communication Design
Callum Weir
English
CLASS OF 2021 TERTIARY AND FURTHER STUDIES PLACEMENTS
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READ THE 2021 STORIES OF VCE SUCCESS AND HIGH PERFORMANCE IN ISSUE 5 OF THE SCG MAGAZINE
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NAPLAN RESULTS
NAPLAN
SCG COMMUNITY REPORT
NAPLAN RESULTS
RESULTS
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SCG COMMUNITY REPORT
The 2021 NAPLAN results were a triumph of high performance and success across our Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 cohort. Our students out-performed the Victorian state average for every measure in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy placing our students at the top of an elite group of learners. 2018 NAPLAN RESULTS
YEAR 9
YEAR 7
YEAR 5
YEAR 3
2017 NAPLAN RESULTS
SCG NAPLAN RESULTS
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AUSTRALIAN AVERAGE
SIMILAR SCHOOLS
2021 NAPLAN HIGHLIGHTS Students’ high performance in their NAPLAN, in the backdrop of a pandemic, is a testament to the support of their families and the expertise of their teachers. Given students were not able to have sit NAPLAN in 2020, their benchmarks and averages increased to record highs for our youngest students. We commend and applaud our students’ significant achievements in the 2021 NAPLAN.
2019 NAPLAN RESULTS
Students outperformed the Victorian state averages for every measure in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy Students outperformed above average in an above average educational environment 2021 NAPLAN RESULTS
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STUDENTS’ SUCCESS
STUDENTS
SCG COMMUNITY REPORT
STUDENTS SUCCESS
S’ SUCCESS SCG COMMUNITY REPORT
At Southern Cross Grammar, we are privileged to have students who are ambitious to make a difference in their communities and beyond. In 2021 this was no different with students applying their skills and passions to give back to their community. Some also expanded their sights internationally in making a difference. As well as volunteering their time in their communities, students also excelled in academic studies and co-curricular passions. From forming our first SCG cricket team to much success, fundraising for those experiencing homelessness, and being awarded a Premier’s VCE Award, we had much to celebrate in 2021.
GORTON YOUNG LEADERS’ AWARD
YEAR 7 CRICKETING TRIUMPH
FUNDRAISING SUCCESS
Callum Weir and Izzy (Izellah) Chetcuti (Class of 2021) were awarded the Gorton Young Leaders Award, bestowed by Mr Brendan O’Connor: the Federal Member for Gorton.
2021 began with history in the making at Southern Cross Grammar as we established our first cricket team. The team, made up of Year 7 students, won tournaments and secured titles during the inter-school sporting season.
Year 1 student, Elias, fundraised $2,710 for people experiencing homelessness in the City of Melbourne. Having visited Melbourne’s CBD between lockdowns, he saw the number of people experiencing homelessness within the District and wanted to help.
Callum was awarded the award for his leadership in our school and community throughout the challenges of lockdown. Izzy was awarded for her contribution to organisations including Be My Eyes, 7 Cups, Shopping Angels and the May 2021 50K for Multiple Sclerosis.
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With his parents parents, he designed and printed bookmarks with the aim to sell 30 bookmarks and raise $150. He surpassed his goal, selling over 100 bookmarks and raising $2,710 in total, with people donating over $50 for a bookmark and others donating even more.
2021 SWIMMING CARNIVAL
AUTUMN MUSIC CONCERT
PREMIER’S VCE AWARD
The 2021 school year began with a triumphant return to the pool since 2019 as students competed in their first house event.
The Autumn Music Concert was a vibrant and spectacular night with performances across our music program including Strings Orchestra, Choirs, Wind Ensemble and Select Entry Music. Audiences were blown away by students’ talent, professionalism and dedication to their craft. We look forward to hosting future concerts in our new auditorium in 2022.
Liam Giacchi (Class of 2020) was awarded the Premier’s VCE Award for his high performance in Further Mathematics. The Premier’s awards recognise students for their outstanding academic achievements in 2020, and we are proud of his high performance being recognised at a state level.
With personalisation at the heart of the event, students were able to compete and enjoy the carnival regardless of their swimming activity.
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STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
STUDENT ATTENDANCE A
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SCG COMMUNITY REPORT
STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
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SCG COMMUNITY REPORT
READ OUR CAPTAINS’ REFLECTIONS ON LEADERSHIP IN THE WIDER COMMUNTIY 2021 COMMUNITY REPORT • 58
LEARN ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH WATERWORKS AND THE 2021 PERSONAL PROJECTS
Southern Cross Grammar does not exist in a vacuum. We encourage our students and school community to think beyond the school’s gates and immerse themselves in their local community. In a year where our community could go beyond their driveways to pay their respects to our country, to commemorate ANZAC Day, our student leaders, staff, leaders and families payed their respects at Caroline Springs RSL Sub Branch’s Dawn Service. On campus Head Prefects, Hannah Merry and Aaryan Ram led our whole school ANZAC Day assembly. During the assembly our Head of Humanities, Lydia Brkic, read an extract from her grandfather’s, Private Albert (Toby) Mann, diary recounting his experience serving in Borneo. As part of our Year 7 Program, students are given the opportunity to explore their personal passions and ambitions in their Personal Project unit. For their Project, Sienna Kostadinovic and Zeina Rauf volunteered at Arcare Sydneham Aged Care to connect with older residents in their community.
While volunteering and in the subsequent lockdown, Sienna and Zeina decided to create care packages for the residents to further support them during a disconnected time.
Refugee Camp in Uganda. The kits were delivered by 3 Billion Stories in partnership with the United Nations Refugee Agency.
As part of their investigations into Design Thinking and ambition to find solutions to real world issues through STEM, our Year 7 Select Entry STEM Students partnered with the Water Works Program to build water filtration systems for communities in refugee camps. Building the water filtration systems went beyond assembling parts —the project itself had touchpoint in subject areas including Biology, Geography and the Arts as students learnt about water pollution and filtration techniques. In October 2021, after weeks of travel, the completed kits were supplied to families living in the Rhino
Sienna Kostadinovic and Zeina Rauf talk about their care packages, created for the residents in Arcare Sydenham Aged Care.
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SCG COMMUNITY REPORT OUR STAFF 2021 COMMUNITY REPORT • 60
Our
SCG COMMUNITY REPORT OUR STAFF
Staff
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Our staff are important members of our school community. As we found ourselves transitioning in and out of remote learning, we remained committed to supporting them and prioritising their safety and wellbeing. We have also built, and are building our staffing wellbeing capacity as we look ahead to 2022, with a greater focus on being able to offer higher levels of support for students and their families in a pastoral and operational ability. All staff, both teaching and nonteaching, have current Working With Children Certificates and Level 2 First Aid training. All members of the teaching staff, most with post-graduate qualifications, are registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In 2021, we employed 60.6 FTE teaching staff and 21.1 FTE non-teaching staff. The average attendance rate for teachers in 2021 was 98.65%. 7 teachers (5.66 FTE) from 2021 are not returning in 2022.
Supporting Staff through the Pandemic In 2020, we implemented strategic steps to support staff in mangling their health and wellbeing as remote learning and lockdown became a possibility and—later—reality. This included adding 10 days of paid COVID leave to our leave structure and supports for staff during the returns to on-site teaching. Our strategic steps and supports for staff were well received in 2020 and in 2021, we kept the offerings in place to continue supporting staff in the best way possible. Our 10 days of paid COVID leave gave staff the security of being able to take time from work, without using all their sick leave allocation, in the event they became ill. As we did in 2020, to prepare for our return to on-site learning, we put processes (both school-wide and
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personalised) to support teachers with their working arrangements: especially those who were at risk or caring for people at risk. We also provided extra covers for classes with more Casual Relief Teachers.
the Head of Primary in the overall management across all areas of the Primary School. •
Three School Section Leaders (F-6) to provide leadership in quality developmental pedagogy in their respective year levels, under the leadership of the Head of Primary, and be responsible for the care and wellbeing of students.
•
F-6 Literacy Coordinator to lead and support Primary Years teachers with effective teaching strategies to expand learning opportunities to all students in literacy.
Building Capacity in the Primary School In 2020 we began re-imagining the structure of our learning community and began the shift to a Primary Years (F-6) and Secondary Years (7-12) from our previous Junior School (F-4), Middle School (5-9) and Senior School (10-12) structure. The first part of re-imagining of this structure in 2020 saw us further build our wellbeing capacity across our Secondary Years offerings and program with the introduction of Heads of Year, Head of Wellbeing: Curriculum, Head of VCE, and Head of Additional Needs. In 2021, our focus shifted to the Primary Years to continue providing premium learning, wellbeing, and teaching experiences for our young learners in Foundation-Year 6. In doing this, we introduced the following roles to our current staff offerings: •
Head of Primary to provide and facilitate transformational leadership in curriculum innovation, pedagogy, student learning, and wellbeing in the Primary Years.
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Deputy Head of Primary to provide significant and visible support to
Preparing for Centauri With the Centauri Project boasting significant state-of-the-art spaces and with the expansions across our campus, we also appointed new staff in areas including Food Studies, Science, Mathematics, and Studio Arts to further support our work in offering the best learning experience for students from innovative and skilled staff.
INTRODUCING OUR PRIMARY YEARS LEADERS
PRUE PETSINIS Head of Primary
PAUL STANISCIA Deputy Head of Primary
Ms Petsinis is an outstanding and highly respected learning leader with an exemplary background in Primary Years leadership, curriculum, wellbeing, and mentorship. She has held a number of leadership and wellbeing positions in Presbyterian Ladies College since 2013 including the Head of Junior School Wellbeing, Head of Curriculum and Learning, and acting Deputy Head of Junior School.
Mr Staniscia is a celebrated educational leader and exemplary mathematician, experienced in wellbeing and curriculum. Mr Staniscia has taught in a number of school settings and has held leadership positions with his most recent role being the Deputy Principal, Learning and Teaching Leader, and Mathematics Leader at Oscar Romero Catholic Primary School for over a decade.
Before joining Presbyterian Ladies College in 2013, Ms Petsinis worked at leading schools including Mentone Girls Grammar School, Lauriston Grammar school, and Melbourne Grammar School as the Head of Grimwade House.
In 2019, Mr Staniscia was awarded the 2019 Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) New Voice in Educational Leadership.
Ms Petsinis holds a Diploma of Teaching with a Double Major in Music and Physical Education, a Bachelor of Special Education, and a Master of Educational Management. Ms Petsinis is set to commence her leadership role in January 2022.
His qualifications include a Masters of Educational Leadership from Monash University, specialising in Mathematics, in addition to his Bachelor of Education (Primary) and Bachelor of Arts from the Australian Catholic University. Mr Sraniscia is set to commence his role as Deputy Head of Primary in January 2022.
Mrs Prue Petsinis is passionate about wellbeing, curriculum and mentorship. Here, she is pictured speaking with students at lunchtime.
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SCG COMMUNITY REPORT STAFF ACHIEVEMENT
STAFF ACHIEVEMENT
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At Southern Cross Grammar we are fortunate to have highly qualified educators and leaders who embody high performance. We could not be prouder of their achievements and ambition both in their careers and wider communities.
LEADING FUTURE EDUCATORS Having taught for nearly 13 years, VCE Chemistry teacher, Angie Atal Carreon is a powerhouse of VCE Chemistry knowledge and since 2017 has been leading and mentoring pre-service teachers studying at Monash University as a Teacher’s Associate.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ANGIE’S ROLE AT MONASH UNIVERSITY
LEADING BY EXAMPLE In May 2021, Science teacher Iman Balla was awarded the Bachar Houli Foundation’s community award for her work in its Girls’ Leadership Program and in the wider Muslim community.
READ ABOUT IMAN’S ACHIEVEMENT AND HER AMBITION FOR HER COMMUNITY
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Immerse yourself in the many stories, successes, experiences and highlights from the SCG community in 2021 as we marked our tenth year.
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SCG MAGAZINE ISSUE 1
SCG MAGAZINE ISSUE 2
SCG MAGAZINE ISSUE 3
2021 SCG YEARBOOK
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2 - 20 Lancefield Drive Caroline Springs, 3023 (03) 8363 2000 admin@scg.vic.edu.au
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