Senior School Report
June 1, 2026 – Edition 7
SIS Cross Country
Our athletes delivered an outstanding performance at this year’s SIS Cross Country Carnival, bringing home the Division B pennant in multiple age groups. Congratulations to our U17 boys, U17 girls, and U21 girls, whose determination and stamina were on full display throughout the event. A special mention to this year’s medalists:
- U13 – Zara M, 1st place
- U15 – Lara A, 2nd place
- U16 – Daisy Z, 3rd place
- U16 – Ryder J, 3rd place
- U17 – Alexia L, 1st place
- U17 – Billy B, 2nd place
- U21 – Sienna KC, 1st place
Casey Grammar also proudly secured the Senior Shield, a testament to the depth of talent and commitment across our senior runners. The day was marked by grit, encouragement, and genuine school spirit – a brilliant achievement for all involved!
House Chess Competition
The House Chess Competition has now wrapped up for the term, and what a fantastic competition it was. Students from all year levels took part, with each of them demonstrating strategic thinking and sportsmanship.
Matches were played in a respectful and encouraging atmosphere, with plenty of memorable battles across the board. Congratulations to all participants for contributing to an inspiring and inclusive House event.
Kate Morgan
Head of Senior School
Designing with Purpose
Earlier this year, Casey Grammar was fortunate to have Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath visit our school and present his research to staff regarding motivation, technology, learning and brain development.
Inspired by this professional learning, Mr. Kearney recently implemented a storytelling approach within a Year 9 Visual Communication Design task as part of our ongoing professional development program.
Before beginning their two-point perspective modern house drawings, students completed a questionnaire exploring the imagined owners of the home – considering their lifestyle, needs and preferences. This encouraged students to think more deeply about the purpose and functionality of their designs, rather than focusing solely on the technical drawing itself.
The impact of this approach was overwhelmingly positive. Student reflections highlighted that storytelling helped them connect more personally with their work, improve their planning and make more thoughtful design decisions.
Many students commented that creating a narrative gave their designs “purpose” and made the task feel more authentic and relevant to everyday life. Others reflected that the process helped them visualise layouts, materials and textures more clearly, while also increasing motivation and creativity throughout the design process.
Importantly, students also identified that this approach supported problem-solving and persistence during the task. Having a clear story behind their design provided a strong reference point whenever they became stuck or unsure of their next steps. Across the reflections, students consistently recommended that this method continue to be used in future classes.
Below is a selection of the amazing pieces created by Year 9 students, Ivy T, Reeya S and Daniella B:
“The task felt more connected to real life.”
“The story behind the house made the design process more enjoyable.”
“The questionnaire helped me connect more deeply with my design.”
This work is an excellent example of our professional development program in action. Our staff critically reflect on and refine classroom practice to deepen student engagement, strengthen learning connections and create meaningful educational experiences.
Tegan West
Head of Teaching and Learning
Art Competition Shortlist
Campion Education released an Art Competition for 2026 that included the winner and shortlisted applicants having their artworks featured in promotional merchandise.
The competition was extended to students as a voluntary entry, and one of our Year 8 art students, McKenzie G, took it upon herself to develop a design, based on this year’s theme ‘World of Wonder’.
She was fortunate enough to be commended and shortlisted for her creativity amongst several other schools in the country.
Congratulations McKenzie, for this fantastic achievement!
Bonnie Midwinter
Senior School Teacher
Hellenic Museum Visit
On Monday, 18 May, the Year 12 Ancient History class travelled to the Hellenic Museum in Melbourne’s CBD. Students explored an incredible range of artefacts, including items dating right back to 429 BCE and beyond.
During our visit, Jo from the museum guided us through the collection and brought the ancient world to life with engaging stories and discussions. We even had the opportunity to ask the Oracle of Delphi a question; thankfully, it predicted that we had all passed our recent Inquiry SAC!
Jo also led an insightful session on the Peloponnesian War, helping to deepen and reinforce the understanding students have developed throughout our lessons.
Tegan Kearney
Head of Humanities
Debating and Communications
SIS Public Speaking
SIS Public Speaking took place at Padua Tyabb on Thursday, 7 May, with 95 students and 190 speeches taking place across the day. Students enjoyed the opportunity to present in both Prepared and Impromptu categories.
Five Casey Grammar students represented our school on the day, within three divisions. Subeg S and Harrison L were in the Junior division; Sienna P competed in the Intermediate division, and Sienna KC and Kylie O competed in the Senior division.
Students were required to deliver both a prepared speech – selected from specific topics – and an impromptu speech, for which they were given only five minutes’ preparation time.
Each Casey Grammar representative performed with confidence and poise, demonstrating significant hard work and dedication against strong and experienced competitors.
Notably, our Junior team, Harrison and Subeg, placed an impressive 5th out of 17 teams, a fantastic achievement! Harrison also achieved individual success, finishing 3rd out of 47 competitors in the Junior division.
Under Kylie’s leadership, and through the collective teamwork and commitment of all participants, Casey Grammar once again demonstrated its strength in public speaking competitions and its promise of continued success in the years ahead.
Liam McDermott
Debating and Communications Coach
Debating Workshop – Secret Topic!
On Friday, 8 May, the Senior Debating Team gathered in room LC2 after school for an engaging and high-energy Secret Topic Workshop.
Students from Years 8 – 12 came together to strengthen their confidence, adaptability, and strategic thinking in preparation for future debate rounds. With fruit, lollies and pizza spread across the room, the atmosphere was both relaxed and focused, creating the perfect environment for collaboration and learning.
Throughout the session, students explored practical strategies for approaching secret topics under pressure. They practised using preparation time effectively, identifying key wording and hidden clashes within motions, and developing clear, strategic arguments quickly.
A major focus of the workshop was encouraging students to move away from relying on fully scripted speeches and instead trust their understanding of the debate. They also worked on actively listening to one another and responding dynamically in the moment.
The workshop also emphasised the recognition of recurring patterns across debates, helping students understand that many secret topics revolve around similar value clashes and frameworks.
Through rapid-fire preparation rounds, collaborative discussion and full debate simulations, students built both skill and confidence. Overall, the session was a fun and highly valuable way to finish the week together while continuing the strong momentum of Senior Debating in 2026.
DAV Debating Round 3
On Thursday, 21 May, Casey Grammar students competed in Round 3 of the DAV Debating Competition hosted at St Margaret’s School in Berwick. Congratulations to all students involved for their preparation, teamwork, confidence, and impressive public speaking throughout the evening. A special thank you also to Tiffany Weiler for joining the Debating team as a coach.
Our B-Grade Team, Arpita A, Naaz C, Sehajleen Kand Malalai K, debated the topic “That Australia should introduce a sugar tax.”
Our C-Grade Team, Ekam G, Theekshana T, Johanna J and Tanisha M, debated whether English and Maths should remain compulsory throughout secondary school while allowing students to select their remaining electives.
Our D-Grade Team, Harrison L, Amaya D, and Karley M, debated whether petrol cars should be banned for business purposes from 2030.
All teams represented Casey Grammar with maturity, integrity, and thoughtful argumentation throughout the evening. Congratulations also to our B-Grade and D-Grade teams, who are currently sitting in the top tier of their DAV divisions – an outstanding achievement at this stage of the season.
It has also been particularly impressive watching students engage thoughtfully and respectfully with increasingly nuanced and complex ideas. Debating continues to provide students with valuable opportunities to think critically, challenge ideas respectfully, and communicate with empathy, maturity and intellectual curiosity.
Thank you also to the families and staff who continue to support our growing Debating & Communications program.
Naomi Weiler
Coordinator of Debating & Public Speaking
Year 9 Casey Challenge – City Experience
During Week 3, our Year 9 students took part in the Casey Challenge City Experience program, spending a full week exploring some of Melbourne’s most iconic locations. Based at City CYC, students embraced the opportunity to develop independence, teamwork skills, and a deeper appreciation of the city around them.
Throughout the week, students visited a wide range of cultural, historical, and recreational sites. Highlights included the Eureka Skydeck, where students enjoyed views of Melbourne from above and gained perspective on the city’s layout and growth.
At Federation Square, they explored Melbourne’s vibrant cultural precinct, while the visit to the State Library of Victoria provided insight into Australia’s rich history and resources.
The group also spent time at the MCG, where they learned about Australia’s sporting history and the significance of this iconic venue. A trip to the Melbourne Museum complemented their learning with engaging exhibits across science, history, and culture, followed by an immersive experience at IMAX.
An important part of the week was developing social awareness and empathy through engagement with The Big Issue Classroom, where students explored important social issues and heard about the work being done to support vulnerable communities.
Students also made the most of Melbourne’s outdoor spaces, including a walk/run around The Tan, promoting physical activity and wellbeing while enjoying the scenery of the Royal Botanic Gardens.
The week provided a great mix of learning and hands-on city experiences. Students approached each activity with enthusiasm and represented the school positively throughout the program. It was fantastic to see their confidence grow as they navigated the city and made the most of every opportunity.
A big thank you to the staff who supported the program and helped make the week such a memorable success.
Kylie Reeves
Service Learning Leader
Rainbow Celebration
On Friday,15 May, Casey Grammar proudly held its inaugural Rainbow Celebration in the lead-up to IDAHOBIT Day (17 May).
Students from across the Senior School came together to celebrate with rainbow choc-tops, face painting, music, and a variety of stalls and activities.
We are incredibly grateful to Ms. Burns for her dedication and hard work in organising the event, as well as to the Inclusion Team for helping bring the vision to life. Together, our school community raised over $1500 for Minus18! This is an amazing achievement that reflects the spirit of inclusivity and support within our school.
We can’t wait to see what next year’s celebration will bring!
Naomi Weiler and Tegan Kearney
Senior School Teachers
