Firbank Grammar School

FIRBANK NETBALL CLUB CELEBRATION | We wrapped up the 2024 season with fantastic senior and junior presentation afternoons. With nearly 300 players and 28 teams, there was so much to celebrate. 🏐✨

A huge thank you to Vixens player Kate Eddy for sharing her inspiring career stories and insights on dedicated training. Netball enthusiast and former state player, Principal Jenny Williams, was thrilled to present the awards.

It was a great afternoon for teams and parents to come together, celebrate the season’s successes, and enjoy the friendships formed. Congratulations to all our players for their commitment and dedication this season, well done to all the award recipients. This year’s winner of the Jenni Maloni Award for outstanding service to the club was Lucy Oldfield. 👏

Today is R U OK? Day and we're encouraging everyone to ask, "Are you OK?" to as many people as possible. These four simple words can have a profound impact on someone's life.

While today is a special reminder, we at Firbank believe it's important to check in with each other every day. Let's make it a habit to speak up and reach out.
Remember the four key steps:

1. Ask, "R U OK?"
2. Listen
3. Encourage action
4. Check in

This week, the Student Wellbeing Group has lined up exciting activities to promote mental wellness. We've shared insights in year-level assemblies about the significance of R U OK? Day and mental health and today our students are putting on a bake sale to support the R U OK? Foundation.

Let's make a difference, one conversation at a time. 💛

BDNA GRAND FINALS | Good luck to our 6 Firbank Netball Club teams playing in the BDNA Grand Finals this weekend. This is an outstanding achievement for the teams and the club. Students, staff and families are encouraged to come and cheer on our teams at the BDNA courts on Saturday afternoon. Go Firbank!

BANDS CONCERT | For the first time in years, Firbank’s bands had a concert dedicated to them and they truly dazzled. It was wonderful to see the junior students in the Concert Band showing what talent awaits us as they mature. The senior students in Symphonic Winds and Big Band delivered flawless performances, highlighting the remarkable talent of our students. The audience was certainly treated to an exceptional evening of music. Congratulations to all students.

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION | Our Year 8 students had an incredible week exploring Victoria's High Country on their Alpine Program. 🏞️ Focusing on sustainability, they deepened their understanding of the alpine ecosystem's fragility and the effects of climate change while honing their outdoor skills. We congratulate them on a fun and memorable week. 🌟

ARMADALE DISTRICT ATHLETICS | Our Firbank Grammar Brighton Junior athletics team competed fiercely at the Armadale District Athletics. Their dedication truly shone through. With rigorous training before school and on weekends, the team excelled with exceptional performances across the board.

🌟 Highlights:
- All six relay teams sprinted to victory in their races
- Many athletes smashed their personal bests in both track and field events
- Firbank achieved an amazing 7 District records and finished first overall

🎉Record Breakers:
- Madi F (Year 6): 100m (breaking a long-standing record from 1997)
- Polly O (Year 5): Triple jump
- Hope H (Year 5): 1500m
- Jade H (Year 4): 800m and 1500m

Additionally, two teams set District records in their age groups:
✨11 Years: Mackenzie D, Polly O, Charlie I, Jade W
✨12/13 Years: Madi F, Bella B, Jodie Z, Alexa T

Exciting news—17 students have progressed through to Divisions in October.

A huge thank you to our amazing coaches Craig Furber, Lou Roberts, and Clodagh Grogan for their expert guidance and support.

SERVICE LEARNING | Over the weekend, our Year 11 and 12 students had the chance to meet the wonderful group of participants they will look after during a 3-day program scheduled for the end of Term 3. We are delivering this program alongside Flying Fox, a non-profit organisation providing social opportunities for children with disabilities.

Check out this video for more details about the program: https://vimeo.com/1003926086?share=copy

To support this fantastic cause, we’re aiming to raise $5,000. 💪🎯 Every donation makes a difference. Contribute to our goal and help us make this program unforgettable by donating here: https://www.givenow.com.au/firbankflyingfox.

Thank you for your generosity and support. 🙌💖

SNOW SPORTS | The 2024 Snowsports season was the best on record for Firbank. While the warm August conditions weren't favourable at Mt Buller for the state competition, Firbank's 39 teams worked incredibly hard and their efforts paid off. 16 individual and team entries were achieved for the Australian Interschools Snowsport Championships at Perisher this month.

✨ Nationals Qualifications:

Division 5 Alpine GS: Matilda L, Holly D, Maeve N, Sadie H
(Team - Top 6)

Division 5 Moguls: Matilda L, Maeve N, Holly D (Team - Top 6)

Division 5 Ski Cross: Matilda L, Holly D, Maeve N (Team - Top 6)

Division 5 Cross Country Classic: Matilda L, Holly D (Individual - Top 20)

Division 4 Alpine GS: Genevieve D, Annabelle D, Audrey H, Keeva N (Team - Top 6)

Division 4 Moguls: Genevieve D, Annabelle D, Audrey H (Team - Top 6 + Individual Top 20)

Division 4 Ski Cross: Genevieve D, Annabelle D, Audrey H (Team - Top 6)

Division 4 Cross Country Relay: Genevieve D, Isabelle T, Annabelle D (Team - Top 6)

Division 4 Cross Country Classic: Genevieve D, Isabelle T, Annabelle D (Individual - Top 20)

Division 3 Moguls: Isabella L (Individual - Top 20)

Division 3 Ski Slopestyle: Isabella L (Individual - Top 16)

Division 3 Cross Country Classic: Isabella L (Individual - Top 20)

Division 3 Moguls: Isabella L and Grace M (Team-Top 6)

Division 2 Moguls: Lyla S (Individual - Top 20)

Division 2 Ski Slopestyle: Lyla S, Madi R, Catherine B (Team - Top 6)

🏅 Nationals Results:

Division 5 Moguls:
First Place Individual - Matilda L
First Place Team - Matilda L, Maeve N, Holly D

Division 5 Alpine GS:
Second Place Individual - Matilda L

Division 4 Moguls:
Third Place Team - Genevieve D, Annabelle D, Audrey H

Division 4 Alpine GS:
Third Place Individual - Genevieve D
Second Place Team - Genevieve D, Annabelle D, Audrey H, Keeva N

Division 4 Ski Cross:
Second Place Individual - Genevieve D
First Place Team - Genevieve D, Annabelle D, Audrey H

Division 2 Ski Slopestyle:
Third Place Individual - Lyla S
Second Place Team - Lyla S, Madi R, Catherine B

A huge shoutout to our incredible athletes for representing Firbank with such skill and dedication. Keep up the amazing work.

VIC ALL SCHOOLS TRACK RELAYS | We’re thrilled to share our amazing results from the VIC All Schools Track Relays:

🔥 U/14 4 x 100m Relay: Nada F, Harper C, Olivia L, and Ruby M not only won their heat with ease but also took home the gold medal in the final.

🔥 U/18 Medley Relay: Madie K, Poppy M, Valentina L, and Amy F delivered a phenomenal race to secure the gold medal.

🥉 U/18 4 x 100m Relay: Amy F, Valentina L, Isabelle F, and Hannah M raced their hearts out and clinched the bronze medal in a thrilling finish.

A big shoutout to our U/14 ‘B’ team, U/16 4 x 100m team, and U/18 ‘B’ teams in both the 4 x 100m and Medley relays. Your efforts and performances were absolutely fantastic.

HOUSE DEBATING FINALS | We're excited to announce the winners of our recent debating competition.

Senior Division: Hancock-Crowther took the top spot with a compelling argument "That all menstrual products should be free."

Junior Division: Tonkin-Clarke triumphed with their thought-provoking stance "That social media should only be accessed by people aged 16 and over."

A big shoutout to all 53 students who participated across both divisions—your insights and debates were truly impressive. 👏👏

GOETHE POETRY COMPETITION | We're thrilled to announce that 8 talented students from Years 10-12 participated in this prestigious event. A Special congratulations to Sophia J (Year 11) for winning 1st Prize, and Lucie Braddon (Year 12) for securing 3rd Prize.

The competition was fierce, with students showcasing their skills in pronunciation, accent, emphasis, and interpretation of German poetry. 🌟

A huge shoutout to all participants for their incredible effort and dedication.

NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS | Congratulations to Firbank Year 11 student Madie K for finishing 3rd in the National Cross-Country Championships.

After spending much of the year recovering from a serious foot injury, Madie's bronze medal is an extraordinary achievement. Battling rain, mud, and a challenging hilly Tasmanian course, Madie made a remarkable comeback from a tough start to finish just 4 seconds behind first place.

Your determination and resilience are truly inspiring, Madie. Well done. 🌟👏

SNOWSPORTS | We are so pleased to share that Matilda L has won the Division 5 Moguls competition at Perisher. Matilda L and her teammates Maeve N and Holly D were also able to secure the number 1 position for their team efforts. Congratulations girls. ✨

CHAMBER CONCERT | Term Three has been an exceptionally busy term for music with many wonderful concerts and events. As we wrap up the term, we invite you to join us for one final highlight: our charming Chamber Concert. This event will showcase Firbank’s smaller ensembles, featuring performances from both junior and senior groups, including vocal and instrumental pieces. It promises to be an evening of interesting, eclectic and beautiful music. We look forward to seeing you there.

CHORAL CONCERT | Firbank’s annual Choral Concert once again transformed St. Andrews Church into a magical world as the angelic voices of choirs from across the three campuses swept over the venue. Performances from the Turner House and Sandringham House choirs, along with the senior choirs, enthralled the audience. The premiere performance by Cantare, the new Senior Jazz Ensemble, was impressive, and the Senior String Quartet’s performance was sublime as they accompanied the vocalists. Congratulations to all performers on a magnificent evening of music.

FATHER’S DAY FOOTY BREAKFAST | Everyone had a fantastic time celebrating Father’s Day at our Dad and Daughter Footy Breakfast this morning. Our special guests, Luke Ball and Bridie Hipwell (2022), shared insights into their AFL journeys in an engaging discussion, moderated by Peter Russo, Firbank’s Director of Sport and former Hawthorn Football Club premiership player.

It was a memorable morning filled with fun, football, and great conversations.

AGTV POETRY COMPETITION | We’re thrilled to announce that four Firbank students advanced to the State Final of the AGTV Poetry Competition, held at the Austrian Club in Heidelberg. Facing top contenders from across Victoria, our students delivered exceptional recited poems in German, showcasing their pronunciation and interpretation skills.

We are incredibly proud to announce the following achievements:
🌟 Eve A – 1st Prize (Year 7 DaF, German as a Foreign Language)
🌟 Audrey M – 4th Prize (Year 9 Open)
🌟 Ellie D – 6th Prize (Lower Secondary Open)

Congratulations to all our finalists for their outstanding performances.

Yesterday, Firbank hosted an afternoon tea celebrating our amazing Old Girls who received Australia Day Honours: Christine Rodda AM (1972), Ann Rusden OAM (1953), Beverley Sutherland Smith OAM (1953), Peta Whitford OAM (1965) alongside former Board member Peter Lewinski AM and Principal Jenny Williams.

It was a truly inspiring afternoon filled with pride and shared memories from all three campuses.🌟💫

STATE PARLIAMENT EVENT | Year 9 students Arabella F, Zara S and Issy F recently represented Firbank at the National Council of Women Annual Schools My Vote My Voice in State Parliament. They joined 12 other schools to debate the hot topic: “Social Media – A Blessing or a Curse.” Well done to our amazing representatives.

DEBATING | Our Year 6 students at our Brighton Junior Campus recently took on their peers from Brighton Grammar School in a lively debate. This was an excellent opportunity for them to refine their public speaking and persuasive skills.

They tackled thought-provoking topics such as “The Olympics are an expensive extravagance” and “The voting age should be lowered to 16.” We were so impressed with the students and how they could articulate their thoughts and support their claims with a plethora of evidence.

ROWING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS | Congratulations to Frankie Dever and Poppy Dalton-Morris. These two powerhouse rowers made waves at the World Championships, finishing with a stellar 4th place in the Under 19 coxed four. 🌟 Their incredible drive and skill brought them right to the edge of the podium, and they’ve left the world stage with their heads held high.

JUNIOR WORLD TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS | Congratulations Lilyth Jones for winning a Silver Medal in the 2000m individual pursuit. An amazing performance! This came after a sensational qualifying ride, where Lil smashed 4 seconds off her PB with the fastest qualifying time.

Lil, we can’t wait to see you back at Firbank to congratulate you personally.

FIRBANK SNOWSPORTS | 40 students from P-12 participated in Victorian Interschools Snowsports at Mt Buller last week. We are thrilled that 16 teams qualify to compete for Firbank at Nationals. Congratulations to everyone who participated and best of luck to those heading to Perisher next week.

BOOK WEEK | Our Sandringham Junior Co-Ed Campus had a wonderful time celebrating Book Week.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated and made it a memorable event. We loved seeing our community come together to celebrate the magic of reading.

Happy reading. ✨📚

BOOKINGS CLOSE ON SUNDAY | Celebrate Father’s Day at our Dad and Daughter Footy Breakfast, featuring special guests Luke Ball and Bridie Hipwell (2022). Enjoy bacon and egg rolls, fruit, pastries and a coffee cart followed by a Q&A session with our guests, moderated by Peter Russo, Firbank Director of Sport and former Hawthorn Football Club premiership player. Book your tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/firbank-father-s-day-footy-breakfast

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs Ceri Lloyd as the new Deputy Principal / Head of Senior School at Firbank Grammar School, effective from 2025.

Ceri is an inspirational, passionate, respectful, and kind leader who was selected from an incredibly high calibre field of applicants. As an alumna of Firbank Grammar, Ceri's return to our community is a source of great joy, and we eagerly anticipate the wealth of experience she brings with her. With over three decades in education, Ceri has excelled in various roles encompassing teaching, learning, curriculum development, strategic planning, operations, and student wellbeing.

Ceri's leadership is characterised by her dedication to fostering a culture of professional thinking and learning and building high-performing teams. Her commitment to innovation and the creation of forward-thinking programs has consistently supported young people in their academic and life pursuits.

We are delighted to welcome Ceri back to the Firbank family and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our School community.

BANDS CONCERT | This evening will showcase the Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, Big Band, and solo performances. Our talented ensembles have been working hard and are excited to share their special evening with you. Entry is free, so join us next Thursday night for an unforgettable musical experience.

AN EVENING WITH BEL CANTO AND FRIENDS | Bel Canto warmed the hearts of their audience with a wonderful evening of music. The Recital Hall resonated with beautiful voices as Bel Canto showcased the depth and scope of their vocal ability and repertoire. This year they were joined by their friends, Firbank’s Guitar Ensemble and Senior String Quartet. Both ensembles delighted the audience with their performances. An excellent night was had by all.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT UNITS 1/2 | Our Year 11 students recently visited the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, where they gained valuable insights from co-owner Leanne Neeland on business operations, staffing, marketing, and corporate culture. They also participated in a "Taste & Create" session, experiencing chocolate-making firsthand and applying their classroom knowledge to real-world business practices.

ROWING | Poppy Dalton-Morris and Frankie Dever are set to compete at the U19 World Rowing Championships in Canada this week. The competition runs from August 21-25. Catch all the action by watching the races through the link below. ✨

https://worldrowing.com/event/2024-world-rowing-under-19-championships