While Casey Grammar School has evolved and grown significantly in the past 30 years, the very best things about the school remain the same
Casey Grammar School opened in 1994 with 57 students from Foundation to Year 6. Now it has more than 1,000 students up to Year 12 and is an expansive, vibrant community.
What has changed and what has stayed the same?
Jacqualine Newton joined CGS in 1998 in Year 7. After graduating in 2003, she studied Arts and Law at Monash University and became a lawyer. CGS played a major role in setting her on a successful career path and building her self-belief.
“I was encouraged to try new things and that helped me be where I am today,” she says.
“During one of my first school camps we went to the Grampians. I don’t have a sporty bone in my body but our teacher encouraged me to try to abseil. I was so nervous but he gave me enough confidence to put on a harness and stand on the edge. Then he suggested I descend a little. Before I realised it, I’d abseiled to the bottom — a huge achievement!
“That’s just one example of how Casey Grammar created a safe, encouraging place. Teachers saw our potential and helped us grow.”
Jacqualine has been on the CGS Consultative Committee for 10 years and while she’s seen new facilities change the look of the school, the sense of warmth and community has endured.
“Casey still has that feeling of care for every student. Nobody gets lost – it’s a bigger school with a small community feeling,” she says.
Nick, a current Year 12 student, enrolled in Prep and has many positive school memories.
“Being interested in the Performing Arts, I cherish memories and close friendships formed during school productions. Many excursions and camps have been highlights and so were the Debutante Ball and Year 6 Graduation. There have also been many classroom conversations that I’ll remember in years to come,” he says.
“The teachers are the biggest strength of the school – they are supportive, highly-skilled and have helped me meet my potential, and sometimes exceed my expectations of what I can achieve. The improved facilities over the years have also been important in allowing the school to expand,” says Nick.
With his final day at Casey Grammar looming, Nick, who hopes to study Engineering and Commerce at Monash University, has mixed emotions.
“I’m excited for the future, but I’ll be sad to not see some of my friends and teachers,” he says.
“After spending more than two-thirds of my life at Casey Grammar, I will miss the school.”
