CANBERRA Girls Grammar School (CGGS) recently wowed more than 2000 guests with its production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”. 

In the spirit of creative collaboration, across four shows, students from Years 3 to 12 delivered all facets of a feature-length, live show.

“Our students had the opportunity to perform as some of Disney’s favourite characters, work with the stage and technical crew that prepared the set, costumes, lighting and audio-visual, or engage with the audience and behind the scenes aspects of the show in event management,” said producer Mr Joel Copeland, director of co-curricular. 

“The music was also performed entirely by students from our Glanville-Hicks Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble that forms part of The Music Academy at CGGS. 

“We were pleased that students with a range of abilities had a chance to experience a production of this calibre, it was magical.”

Developing strengths beyond the classroom was also made possible by the CGGS Pastoral Care Program, said deputy principal and head of Senior School Mrs Tara Dunstall. 

The program was embedded across the school’s academic and co-curricular offering, underpinned by teaching and learning teams who had developed targetted, age-appropriate frameworks that focused on a specific area of growth for every student. 

“We are convinced that offering a well-rounded education to our students will result in enhanced academic achievements, an enriched school experience, improved mental and physical well-being, and the cultivation of exemplary individuals,” she said.

“In partnership with our parents, our Pastoral Care Program supports our students to develop an understanding of self, explore connections with their peers and creates a supportive environment where they have the confidence to follow their own path.” 

At CGGS, students thrived in an environment that encouraged independence, fostered passions and promoted personal growth, self-reflection and connection, said principal Mrs Terrie Jones. 

The collective focus was the graduation of learned, confident and capable young people.

“This is a place where we want our students to feel safe pursuing their interests, and be empowered to explore new ones,” she said.

“We believe that for the young, anything is possible and we are grateful for the energy, enthusiasm, creativity and spirit our students bring to CGGS each and every day.”

Mrs Jones said CGGS was a non-selective, independent Anglican school founded in 1926. It had an enrolment of about 1300 students across an Early Learning Centre (ELC), a Junior School and a Senior School, and is co-ed until the end of Year 3. 

As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP), and ACT BSSS, students were challenged to not only think for themselves, but to learn a range of skills related to ways of knowing, doing and being in the world.

Explore a world of opportunity in the heart of Canberra at the Whole School Open Day on Thursday, June 1. 

Register now at cggs.act.edu.au/opendays or contact the enrolments team on 6202 6420 or enrolments@cggs.act.edu.au.

Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” credits: music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater. Book by Doug Wright. Based on a Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. Originally Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia). All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia.