Canberra Grammar School

Canberra Grammar School (CGS)
Canberra Grammar School crest. Source: www.cgs.act.edu.au (Canberra Grammar School website)
Location
Map
Red Hill
,
Australian Capital Territory

Australia
Coordinates35°19′51″S 149°7′31″E / 35.33083°S 149.12528°E / -35.33083; 149.12528
Information
Typeindependent, co-educational, day and boarding
MottoLatin: Deo Ecclesiae Patriae
(For God, for Church, for Country)
DenominationAnglican
Established1929
ChairmanJames Willson[1]
Head of schoolJustin Garrick
ChaplainAndrew Robinson, Father James
Staff554[2]
Teaching staff191[3]
Enrolment2,028 (ELC to 12)[2]
CampusesRed Hill Campus (junior and senior),
Northside Campus (PK to 2),
Southside Campus (PK to 2)
Colour(s)Navy blue, sky blue & gold
   
SloganReady for the world
RevenueA$57,200,000[2]
AffiliationAssociated Southern Colleges
Websitecgs.act.edu.au

Canberra Grammar School is a co-educational, independent, day and boarding school located in Red Hill, a suburb of Canberra, the capital of Australia.

The school is affiliated with the Anglican Church of Australia and provides an education from preschool to Year 12 for boys and girls. In October 2015, the school announced that it would extend co-education to all years, commencing in 2016 with an intake of girls in Years 3 and 4. By 2018, the school became fully co-educational.[4]

The school was founded in 1929 when the existing Monaro Grammar School was relocated to Canberra from Cooma.[5] The foundation stone was laid on 4 December 1928 by Prime Minister Stanley Bruce.[6] Initially, it was attended by only 63 students, but the school has grown considerably since the early 1950s to a total attendance of 1,749 students as of June 2015.[7]

The school has educated one Australian prime minister, Gough Whitlam, and has a long list of notable alumni.

The school consists of 5 main campuses: Red Hill Southside, Red Hill Primary, Red Hill Senior, the Early Learning Center (ELC) and Northside Campbell.

Curriculum

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In the primary school, the Australian Curriculum and Early Years Learning Framework requirements are incorporated through International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.[8]

In the senior school, from years 7 to 10, the school follows the Australia Curriculum and the ACT Every chance to learn curriculum framework.[9] Unlike other schools in the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra Grammar School does not follow the ACT Year 12 Curriculum. Instead, it is the only school in the ACT where students in years 11 and 12 have the option to study either the New South Wales Higher School Certificate (HSC) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.[10] In 2012, Canberra Grammar became an International Baccalaureate World School.[11]

Co-curricular

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Canberra Grammar School is a member of the Associated Southern Colleges (ASC). The school offers many activities outside school hours. These include sport, music and other activities.[12]

  • Junior School: athletics, adventure club, ball games, basketball, chess, cricket, cross country running, drama, European handball, gardening, golf, indoor soccer, mini volleyball, multimedia, orienteering, rugby, art, swimming, tae kwon do, tennis and triathlon.
  • Senior School: athletics club, alternate reality club (ARC), badminton, basketball, CGS Academy (Yr 11 & 12 tutoring for younger students), chess, Code Cadets,[13] community service, cricket, cross country, Cru (Christian Group), debating, dragon boating, drama, Duke of Edinburgh awards, Equestrian Club, football (soccer), golf, hockey, mountain biking, netball, orienteering, outdoor education, rowing, rugby, sailing, snowsports, strength and conditioning, STEM Club, Sustainable CGS,[14] swimming, tae kwon do, tennis, Thucydides club and water polo.
  • Junior School Music: Junior School Chorale, Junior Choir, Senior Choir, String Orchestra, Concert Band and the Canberra Grammar School Stage Band.
  • Senior School Music is made up of two streams of performance groups:
    • The Advanced Musicians Program consists of a senior (higher level) concert band, Chamber Orchestra, senior jazz band, senior percussion ensemble, brass ensemble and Motet. These students have high level performance opportunities.
    • The large ensemble program provides larger ensemble-based experiences, including two concert bands, junior (lower level) jazz band, two string ensembles, a choir, an electric guitar ensemble, junior percussion ensemble and a piano ensemble.

Many of the Senior School ensembles have done numerous tours overseas over the years.

The school also holds a major musical every two years. Previous productions have included: Grease (2021), Chess (2020-cancelled due to Covid), The Pirates of Penzance (2018) Barnum (2015) and Guys and Dolls (2013).

Houses

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Grounds and buildings of Canberra Grammar School viewed from Red Hill

List of houses

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As with most Australian schools, Canberra Grammar utilises a house system. The Senior School consists of ten houses:[15]

House Colour(s) Mascot
Burgmann     Lion rampant
Blaxland   Swan
Garran     Bull
Garnsey   Dove with olive branch
Eddison     Eagle
Hay     Murray cod
Jones   Dragon
Sheaffe     Pegasus
Edwards   Kookaburra
Middleton   Stag

The school also has three Year 7 houses:

House Mascot
Clements Agnus Dei (lamb)
Burgess Kangaroo
Snow Horse

The Junior School has six houses introduced in 2022. These houses were named after local flora and fauna using the traditional Indigenous language of the Ngunnawal people:

House Colour Flora / Fauna
Dhiriwiri   Ironbark
Buru   Kangaroo
Guginyal   Kookaburra
Namarang   Wattle
Mulleun   Wedge-tailed Eagle
Bariny   Stringybark

The Junior School's original four houses, in place till 2021:

House Colour Mascot
Edwards Green Dragon
Radford Red Lion
Garnsey Blue Eagle
CJ Shakespeare Gold Tiger

Most of these houses are in the upper years.

Inter-house competitions

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Houses form the basis of much of the inter-school competition that occurs throughout the academic calendar. Currently, the three prizes ‘\awarded annually to houses are: the Manaro House Shield, the Captain's Cup, and the Sportsmaster's Cup.

Manaro House Shield

[edit]

Events:

The House Shield is currently held by Garnsey House.

Captains' Cup

[edit]

The exact events of the Captains' Cup are at the discretion of the captains and vice-captains of the school, and thus vary on a year-to-year basis. The events for 2024/25 are, in no particular order:

Typically, a "CGS All Star" team is selected from players in the competition to compete against the champion house in each event.

The Captains' Cup is currently held by Jones House.

Sportsmaster's Cup

[edit]

The Sportsmaster's Cup is determined by:

  • Spirit
  • Attendance
  • Participation

The Sportsmaster's Cup is currently held by Garran House.

Heads of school

[edit]
Name Term
W.J. Edwards 1929–1946
A.E. Gardner 1947
David A. Garnsey 1948–1958
Paul J. McKeown, AM 1959–1985
Timothy C. Murray 1986–1998
A. Simon Murray, OAM 1998–2010
Christopher Welsh 2010
Justin Garrick 2011–present

Notable alumni

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See also: Category:People educated at Canberra Grammar School
Academia
Business
  • Kerry Packer, publishing, media and gaming tycoon[21]
  • Nectarios (Nicky) Efkarpidis, architect and property developer[22][23][24]
  • Rowan Dean, advertising executive[25]
  • Terry Snow, Executive Director of the Canberra Airport Group,[26] Australian businessman (trained accountant), entrepreneur, and philanthropist
Media, entertainment and the arts
Politics, public service and the law
Sport
Other

Scandals

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During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian government announced a $130 billion [56] subsidy to help employers to be able to keep paying their employees and to support the survival of businesses and jobs impacted by the pandemic. Canberra Grammar School took $7,108,500 [57] in JobKeeper funds. Dr Garrick, head of the school, responded by saying "that as a private school, Canberra Grammar has an obligation to their community to maintain an operating surplus to ensure their economic viability into the future."[58]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "CGS: Governance". Canberra Grammar School. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "CGS Annual Report 2018". issuu. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  3. ^ "CGS Annual Report 2017". issuu. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  4. ^ "CGS goes fully co-educational". Canberra Grammar School. October 2015.
  5. ^ "Canberra Boys' Grammar School and oval, Red Hill, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory". Australian National University photographs. 1948. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  6. ^ "CANBERRA GRAMMAR SCHOOL - Origin and Progress - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 3 Jul 1929". Trove. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  7. ^ "CGS Annual Report 2015". issuu. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  8. ^ "The IB Primary Years Programme & Australian Curriculum". cgs.act.edu.au. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  9. ^ "The Curriculum Year 7 to Year 10". cgs.act.edu.au. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  10. ^ "The Curriculum Year 11 to Year 12". cgs.act.edu.au. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Canberra Grammar School - International Baccalaureate". IBO. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  12. ^ "Co-Curricular". Canberra Grammar School. 13 March 2009. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009.
  13. ^ Code Cadets
  14. ^ Sustainable CGS
  15. ^ "Houses". Canberra Grammar School. 13 March 2009. Archived from the original on 17 February 2010.
  16. ^ "NSW Rhodes Scholars" Archived 2007-09-15 at the Wayback Machine — University of Sydney list, (retrieved 16 April 2007)
  17. ^ 1st XI and early entry ANU. The Canberran 1976; 44: 79 and 91
  18. ^ "City University website", (retrieved 1 January 2009).
  19. ^ Smarden Essay Prize 1976. Debating Team. The Canberran 1976: 44: 38-43, 166
  20. ^ Butler Prize for Modern History. Debating Team. The Canberran 1976; 44: 166
  21. ^ "Chip off the old block". Melbourne: Fairfax Digital. 31 December 2005.
  22. ^ "The Canberran No. 59". Trove. 1991. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  23. ^ Rout, Milanda (5 June 2015). "New Acton gives Canberra some cool". The Australian.
  24. ^ "Tales of the city". Monocle. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  25. ^ Diary Rowan Dean, spectator.com.au, 5 April 2014, accessed 20 November 2020
  26. ^ "Team | Canberra Airport". canberraairport.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  27. ^ Debating Team. The Canberran 1976: 44: 38-43.
  28. ^ "Francis James interviewed by Stewart Harris [sound recording] | National Library of Australia". catalogue.nla.gov.au. 1992. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  29. ^ [1] Archived October 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ "Standup Comic Sits in for a While". Retrieved 28 March 2011.[dead link‍]
  31. ^ "Mr Bill Birtles Class of 2002". CGS Alumni. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  32. ^ "The Hon. Wallace Clyde Fife". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  33. ^ Dodd, Mark (20 October 2008). "Eco-brawler unworried about front line". The Australian. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012.
  34. ^ "Passions kept Carr on track". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 August 2005.
  35. ^ Capital Magazine Publishing (18 May 2008). "I love my Capital" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  36. ^ 1st X1 and 1st XV The Canberran 1976: 44: 88
  37. ^ "Mr Peter William Webb". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  38. ^ National Museum of Australia: Gough Whitlam Archived 13 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine (accessed:02-08-2007)
  39. ^ "The Hon. Andrew James Constance MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  40. ^ "Cycling Australia > Home | Edward Bissaker". cycling.org.au. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  41. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 September 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. ^ "ROMS | Crew listing for Canberra Grammar racing the Schoolboy Coxed Quad Scull at 2009 Hydro Tasmania Australian Rowing Championships and Interstate Regatta". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  43. ^ a b c d "Rugby — Canberra Grammar School". Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  44. ^ "A man on top of his game". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 March 2007.
  45. ^ Western Force. "Charlie Hancock Profile". Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  46. ^ "Michael Milton". michaelmilton.com. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  47. ^ "1986 National Championships - Australian Rowing History". rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  48. ^ "Athlete profile: Fergus Pragnell". rowingaustralia.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  49. ^ "Swimming Australia". swimming.org.au. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  50. ^ "Richard Freedman returns to where it all began for Canberra Cup". 9 March 2018.
  51. ^ "Richard Freedman guest speaker for Autumn Lunch | Thoroughbred Park".
  52. ^ Inquiry into fitness to plead of David Harold Eastman, page 56
  53. ^ "David Eastman freed from jail as murder retrial ordered". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 August 2014.
  54. ^ "Australian of the Year Awards". www.australianoftheyear.org.au. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  55. ^ "Mr James Muecke Class of 1981". cgsalumni.org.au. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  56. ^ "$130 billion JobKeeper payment to keep Australians in a job | Treasury Ministers". 31 March 2020.
  57. ^ "Millions in JobKeeper went to private schools that grew their surpluses". ABC News. 19 May 2022.
  58. ^ "Canberra Grammar says JobKeeper criticism an 'ongoing campaign' targeting private schools".

Further reading

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  • McKeown, P.J., ed. (1979). Deo, Ecclesiae, Patriae; Fifty Years of Canberra Grammar School. Australian National University Press. ISBN 0-7081-1591-8.
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