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Learning

Co-Curricular

co-curricular

Chess

Our chess program brings together students of all ages who enjoy a recreational activity that compels them to problem-solve, persevere and demonstrate sportsmanship in the face of challenging encounters where no two games are ever alike. The cognitive benefits of chess are considerable: students learn to plan and think analytically and independently, observe, concentrate, develop patience and consider multiple, concurrent possibilities. At Gippsland Grammar, students can play chess recreationally in the ISC and represent the School in the cultural competition enjoyed by the network of Schools against whom we compete.

co-curricular

Debating

Debating at Gippsland Grammar is a popular co-curricular activity that is open to all interested students. Students have the opportunity to participate in a statewide competition, run by the Debaters Association of Victoria, which involves travel to Melbourne throughout the year.

Other competitions include the House Debating Competition and inter-school competitions. Additionally, students in Years 7, 8 and 10 also participate in debating as a part of the English curriculum.

Debating requires students to think critically about the world in which they live and to utilise their skills in persuasion, writing, speaking, listening and teamwork to communicate and justify a point of view. It is an ideal extension activity.

co-curricular

Drama

A number of co-curricular Drama productions take place during the year. Conventional drama productions alternate every second year with a musical production.

The biennial drama production begins in first semester with at times up to 50 students preparing for the Senior School Play which is staged at either the end of second term or the start of the third term. Plays requiring large casts are chosen so that as many students as possible can participate. Students are also involved as technical crews (lighting, sound, backstage, set construction and decoration, makeup) directors and stage managers. The musical production follows a similar timeline but productions are always presented early in Term 3 following a three day production weekend at the end of the mid-year break.

In Term 3, each House writes an original script on a set theme, for presentation at the House Drama Festival when the entire Senior School enjoys four plays and the insights of an external adjudicator who determines places and awards trophies for individual excellence. This is an entirely student-run event. House leaders are responsible for all aspects of the production with the Drama teacher acting in and advisory and supervisory capacity only.

The VCE Drama and Theatre Studies courses also provide opportunities for students to write and perform plays as part of their coursework with engaging productions always resulting.

co-curricular

Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Gippsland Grammar offers young people an opportunity to expand upon their experiences from the Outdoor Education Program, which currently operates at Years 9, 10, 11 and 12. A wide variety of activities are pursued depending upon individual choices. The Award has three levels, Bronze; Silver; and Gold, and for each separate award, participants fulfil the requirements of the four sections.

As the minimum age for entry to the Award is fourteen years, Year 9 is considered an appropriate time to offer entry. Students may choose to enter the Award at a later stage in their schooling; however, experience shows that for the participants’ benefit, early entry is advantageous.

There are four main sections of the award. Physical recreation, skill, service and an adventurous journey. All sections of the Bronze Award must be completed outside of the school environment, generally over a period of 12 weeks. Year 9 students are required, as part of the School curriculum, to be involved in the ongoing Outdoor Education Program, which involves three challenging camps. These camps may automatically qualify participants for the “Adventurous Journey” section of the Bronze Award.

The Award is voluntary and students must make a commitment to give their best efforts. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a great opportunity for young people to extend and challenge themselves through participation in new or existing interesting activities. The award is well recognised in the wider community, particularly at the Gold Level and the Governor awards successful candidates their certificates at Government House in Melbourne.

co-curricular

Music

Music plays a central role in the life of the School, from the Early Learning Centre through to Year 12 and the VCE. Gippsland Grammar acknowledges the important role music has in developing the mind, aesthetic responses and cultural diversity, and its ability to develop responsibility and a team ethic in young people.

Students in the Junior School at St Anne's and Bairnsdale campuses have the opportunity to explore musical instruments through our Year 2 String and Year 4 Band programs, whilst our team of exciting, dedicated instrumental teachers offers individual instrumental and vocal lessons to students throughout the school. In addition, both campuses offer opportunities for students to take their music further through participation in school-based ensembles and choirs. There is a program of early evening soirees which give our young musicians the opportunity to experience, and grow in confidence, in performing in public.

For more information or to apply
co-curricular

Public Speaking

Gippsland Grammar is committed to enhancing the oral communication skills of its students. We know that speaking well and with confidence is a valuable asset in life, and aim to provide our students with many opportunities to develop and refine the skills of effective public speaking.

All students are encouraged to develop the skills of good public speaking. Fostered through the English curriculum, all students participate in speech, debating, role-playing and other public speaking activities. For those students who wish to undertake this activity competitively, the School provides intensive tutorial assistance to develop students’ skills in speech writing, as well as oratorical skills in prepared and impromptu speaking. Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of competitions throughout the year, including intra and inter school contests.

co-curricular

Sport

Gippsland Grammar offers an extensive sports program that aims to involve all students in participation at various levels.

Our program is a compulsory aspect of the curriculum which involves all students participating in our Thursday afternoon sessions throughout the year. There are opportunities for students to excel in interschool sports and beyond and to participate in non-competitive sports just for fun.

Gippsland Grammar is a member school of two Independent School organisations – South Eastern Independent Schools Association (SEISA) and Independent Country Co-educational Schools (ICCES). Through SEISA we compete in a range of summer and winter sports as well as our yearly carnivals in swimming, athletics and cross-country. Over half of the school population competes in a school team on match days, as there is a great emphasis on participation. In the ICCES competition, annual swimming, cross country and athletics carnivals are held at centralised venues in Melbourne.

Gippsland Grammar offers an extensive rowing program, which runs throughout the year and involves us in many statewide regattas. Our rowers have achieved great success over the years with our crews and individual scullers.

Some students have excelled and reached national level through our trap and small bore shooting programs that also contribute to our Thursday Sport.

We are currently excelling in athletics and cross-country running. We have after-school training each week under the guidance of one of the top regional coaches and this has enabled us to be undefeated in these sports for several years.

Being a country-based school, many of our students are interested in equestrian events and our team competes in several gymkhanas throughout the year.

As well as these competitions, we are actively involved in local community-based school sports such as netball, touch football and softball.

The Thursday program offers a wide range of competitive sports and leisure sports. Gippsland Grammar has a strong House system and inter house sport is keenly contested throughout the year.

One of our main aims at Gippsland Grammar is to develop in our students a love of physical activity so that they can continue to enjoy sport throughout their lives, having gained the confidence and skills to participate effectively.

co-curricular

Rowing

Rowing is the ultimate team sport. Students who commit to rowing for Gippsland Grammar are involved in a sport which provides a holistic education and helps to create well-rounded individuals. Successful athletes are committed, hard-working and organised; they manage their time effectively and develop close bonds with team mates that can last a lifetime. Athletes become fitter and stronger; they develop confidence and humility and become reflective practitioners, learning how to identify strengths and areas for development, how to build on success and how to re-build following defeat. It is not surprising that committed athletes become committed students - the skills apply equally to both study and training.

The Director of Rowing has three key philosophies when coaching school level athletes:

  1. Sport for school age athletes should be fun – we row because we enjoy it and we learn to love the sport.
  2. Athletes learn that the best possible performance is realised when they take pride in producing their best technical and physical output.
  3. The right culture drives a squad to greater outcomes. At Gippsland Grammar, we believe in a competitive, squad orientated and professional training environment.

The rowing season runs from the start of Term 3 through to the end of Term 1 in the following school year. In Year 7, every student has the chance to try rowing in Physical Education classes as part of that curriculum.

co-curricular

Shooting

The clay target program at Gippsland Grammar is a popular activity. It is also highly disciplined and challenging, designed to educate students in the disciplines of Skeet, DTL and simulated clay target shooting. The program places major importance on educating students in safety and has a 5-1, student - licensed adult ratio, to maintain strict discipline. Students in Years 8-12 also have an opportunity to participate in an educational program (for a term only) to learn and sample the sport before applying to join the main team.

Members of the permanent team must have a junior firearms license to participate. Students travel by bus to the Longford Field and Game range or the RAAF Base East Sale clay target club, which are the two main venues for weekly Thursday sport. Both venues have highly skilled and qualified instructors to help students develop to the next level. The team travels to a variety of destinations such as Melbourne, Frankston and Bendigo gun clubs to compete in state wide competitions against the best private and public schools in Victoria and Tasmania. The School also competes in a number of highly competitive local clay target events at Bairnsdale, Morwell and Sale.