Senior School Report
October 19, 2026 – Edition 13
Recognising and Celebrating Our VCE Students
As we farewell the Class of 2026, we reflect on a significant milestone in their educational journey. Over the past week, our community united to celebrate the cohort through the Valedictory Assembly, the cherished Guard of Honour and a memorable Valedictory Dinner shared with students, families, friends and staff who have supported them along the way.
These occasions provided an opportunity to acknowledge achievements, recognise growth and celebrate the connections that have shaped their time at Casey Grammar School. We wish all our Year 12 students every success as they prepare for their upcoming VCE examinations and the exciting challenges that lie ahead.
Media ‘Film It’ Workshop Thrills Students
Our Years 9, 10 and 11 Media classes recently ventured into the city to attend the ACMI Film It Workshop. The day involved the students being given a script and asked to put their spin on the acting, direction and editing of the scene, which they recorded in Federation Square.
Each group had a very engaging take on its scene and the ‘thriller’ genre they were allocated.
Year 11 Studio Art Piano Project Showcases Student Creativity
Our Year 11 students have been working collaboratively to refurbish and redesign an old piano from the Music Department. Working together, they have explored a variety of design concepts, shared ideas and carefully refined their approaches as they move towards developing their final design.
The thoughtful collaboration and enthusiasm have been evident throughout, as students combine their individual ideas to create a shared vision for the piano’s transformation. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm, teamwork and commitment as they continue to bring new life to this much-loved instrument.
Year 9 Art and Photography Excursion Inspires Students
Our Year 9 Art and Digital Photography students recently enjoyed an exciting excursion to ArtVo at The District Docklands, interacting with immersive artworks and experimenting with poses and camera angles to transform 3D illusions into 2D photographs.
After a quick lunch break, students headed to the Botanical Gardens to capture beautiful natural landscapes, organic shapes in trees and leaves, lakeside views and close-ups of insects. It was a fantastic day of creativity, cooperation, exploration and hands-on learning, with plenty of inspiration captured along the way!
Debating and Communications: Celebrating Success in 2026
It has been an exciting and successful year for Casey Grammar School’s Debating and Communications program, with students demonstrating exceptional confidence, critical thinking and teamwork across a range of competitions.
Our SIS Debating teams enjoyed considerable success this year, demonstrating their ability to construct compelling arguments, think critically and respond confidently under pressure. Congratulations to our SIS Senior Team members Arpita A (Year 11), Naaz C (Year 11), Sienna P (Year 10), Harrison L (Year 8) and Sehajleen K (Year 11) for their dedication and efforts throughout the competition.
Our SIS Intermediate teams also achieved outstanding results, securing second and third place in their division. Congratulations to Ekam G (Year 10), Tanisha M (Year 10), Johanna J (Year 10) and Theekshana T (Year 10) for finishing second and to Amaya D (Year 9), Harrison L (Year 8) and Karley M (Year 9) for placing third.
These results reflect the depth of talent across our debating program and the commitment of students to developing their skills.
Semi-Finalist Teams Impress
Our UN EVATT teams also deserve special recognition for progressing to the semi-finals. This challenging competition requires students to represent countries in a simulated United Nations Security Council, negotiating, collaborating and responding to complex international issues. Congratulations to Karley M (Year 10), Arpita A (Year 11), Sienna K-C (Year 12) and Sahil P (Year 12) for this impressive achievement.
Our Junior Debating students have enjoyed an equally successful year through the Debaters Association of Victoria (DAV) Junior Speaking Program. This year’s Berwick competition brought together 30 teams from 10 schools, with adjudicators praising the impressive standard of the students’ presentation and public speaking skills.
Casey Grammar School Harrison L (Year 8), Subeg S (Year 8) and Rahool B (Year 7) were recognised among the high-performing teams in Group B, completing the program undefeated with a victory in every round. Special recognition to Harrison L (Year 8), who was acknowledged as one of the competition’s highest-performing individual speakers.
Developing the Next Generation of Debaters
These achievements are particularly encouraging as we continue to develop the next generation of confident and capable debaters. Well done to Ebadaat K (Year 8), Inayat K (Year 7), Hiya K (Year 8), Jovita J (Year 8), Mahi S (Year 7) and Eva S (Year 8).
We also congratulate Naaz C (Year 12), who received a Certificate of Participation in the Robert Menzies Speaking Award. Her involvement reflects a willingness to challenge herself and develop her public speaking skills.
Our attention now turns to Junior Law Mooting, where students are preparing to put their legal reasoning, advocacy and public speaking skills to the test in a simulated courtroom environment. We look forward to seeing their preparation and hard work come together.
Looking Ahead to 2027
Building on this year’s successes, we are excited to continue offering a diverse range of opportunities in 2027, including Senior Debating, Junior Debating, UN EVATT, Law Mooting and Poetry.
Expressions of Interest will open towards the end of the year and we strongly encourage students to be proactive in putting themselves forward. Whether you are an experienced speaker or someone looking to challenge yourself for the first time, these programs provide a chance to develop new skills, work together, build confidence and represent Casey Grammar.
You do not need to be the loudest person in the room to have something worth saying. What matters is the willingness to contribute, challenge yourself and grow.
Congratulations to all students who have represented Casey Grammar throughout 2026. And thank you to those who give up their time to coach, organise and support the students, including Ms Tiffany Weiler for her immense coaching and Ms Jacqueline East for her support with Mooting.
Your dedication, courage and achievements have made this a wonderful year for Debating and Communications!
Senior English
Year 12 English: Going the Extra Mile
The September holidays were a busy and productive period for our Year 12 English students, who took advantage of several additional sessions to prepare for their upcoming VCE examination.
Alongside other VCE subjects, the English team hosted a dedicated Revision Day, which enabled students to prepare, consolidate their knowledge, refine their analytical and writing skills, and seek guidance from their teachers.
The day was complemented by pizza and blueberries, thoughtfully prepared by the amazing Ms Tegan Kearney! A special thank you to Mr Liam McDermott, Ms Nicole Dwyer and Ms Kearney for generously giving their time to support students throughout the day.
Trial Exams Build Exam Stamina
The following week, students completed a Trial Examination, providing another valuable opportunity to practise under examination conditions and identify areas for further improvement.
In addition to these scheduled activities, the English team offered two additional Saturday Trial Examinations on 19 September and 10 October. These sessions provided students with further sessions to build examination stamina, prepare, practise time management and develop confidence in responding to the demands of a three-hour examination.
These additional sessions would not have been possible without the support of our Grounds and Maintenance Team and the School Leadership Team, whose assistance ensured the school could accommodate students outside normal operating hours. We also extend our appreciation to Ms Tegan Kearney and Ms Naomi Weiler, who generously volunteered their Saturdays to supervise and support these occasions.
Praise for Student Dedication
Most importantly, congratulations to the students who chose to invest their own time in their preparation. Attending additional revision sessions and examinations during the holidays and on weekends requires discipline, initiative, determination and a genuine commitment to improvement.
This willingness to take ownership of their learning and workload, seek feedback and embrace opportunities for growth will serve them well beyond their VCE examinations.
We wish all our Year 12 English students every success as they approach the final stages of their VCE journey.
