At Yarra Valley Grammar, our community comprises of amazing groups and activities that make up the Yarra Spirit. They provide a wide range of rewarding opportunities for members of our community to make a significant and valued contribution to our students, staff and the School as a whole.
Life is something like a trumpet. If you don’t put anything in, you won’t get anything out. – William Christopher Handy
Yarra Music is the parent support group for the Music Department at Yarra Valley Grammar. We take a team approach to supporting the Music Department staff and students to ensure the best experience for everyone involved.
We meet in the evenings once each term, both in person at the school and also online during the winter months.
We aim to support the activities of the department by raising funds through music-related events throughout the year, whilst also supporting in-School events such as combined workshops with other schools and bringing guest artists to the School such as the renowned vocal group Idea of North and in 2014, Mr James Morrison and his band.
Our signature events each year include Food, Wine and Music, Jazz in the Café and our Yarra Music Awards Night.
Join the dynamic and supportive community if Yarra Music. This exceptional group plays a crucial role in enhancing and promoting music at Yarra Valley Grammar through fostering community connections.
You will have the opportunity to work together on various music initiatives at the school in a fun and supportive environment.
I eagerly anticipate your participation at a future meeting or event.
Steven Majstorovic
Director of Performing Arts
| Term 1 | ||
| 7.30pm | Tuesday | 24 February - Alison French room |
Term 2 | ||
| 7.30pm | Tuesday | 12 May - Online |
Term 3 | ||
| 7.30pm | Tuesday | 21 July - Online |
Term 4 | ||
| 7.30pm | Tuesday | 17 November - Alison French room |
As well as a set Calendar of events throughout the year, Yarra Music supports the students and teachers for tours, school visits and additional major events in the Music Department.
| Food, Wine and Music Concert | 5.30pm, Saturday 21 March |
| Concerto Competition | 7.00pm, Monday 25 May |
| The Junior School Festival of the Arts | 2.00pm, Sunday 14 June |
| Jazz@Yarra | 7.00pm, Saturday 15 August |
For enquiries please contact Volunteer President Ben Vella on music@yvg.vic.edu.au.
The great opportunities available to students at Yarra Valley Grammar come from activities where students are able to participate in teams made up of a large range of year levels. The students are able to learn from, as well as bond with, students in the other year levels and this greatly assists them in gaining the confidence to achieve. Yarra Canoe & Kayak is one of these great opportunities.
We are a parent group set up to support the expanding Yarra Valley Grammar Canoe & Kayak Team. The team offers opportunities for Yarra students to participate in the challenge of canoeing and kayaking and competing throughout the year at various locations around Victoria. Yarra Canoe & Kayak parents form a friendly, social and informal committee which aims to meet once a term. Joining the group has resulted in a lot of fun for families and students in all year levels including past students who may join us and compete on the Old Yarra Team.
Parents have an opportunity to support their children in the team by providing help at events and working to raise funds to provide equipment and boats. With an increasing number of students participating in the team there is always room for more parents to be involved. Here is a chance to meet other parents who also enjoy being able to support their children through one of their passions. It’s a chance to meet, socialise and have fun with a broader range of families than just your child’s year level.
Contact: Brendan Hodges
canoekayak@yvg.vic.edu.au
Yarra Tennis provides support for the long term success of tennis at the School and creates an environment that is open and encouraging for both students and parents. Yarra Tennis brings together the School’s tennis community and provides support to enable tennis at Yarra Valley Grammar to go from strength to strength. Parents get involved in fundraising and social activities and share a bond with like-minded Yarra parents. Some of these activities include the Annual Yarra Tennis Championship, awards celebrations and the caps and visors for the Yarra Tennis team members with their personalised numbers.
Contact: Wissam Al Azzeh
tennis@yvg.vic.edu.au
Yarra’s Snowsports program caters for a range of skill levels in a supportive and inclusive environment. We offer two 3-day camps, and compete at the Victorian Interschools event, all held at Mr. Buller. Development camp is suitable for beginners through to intermediate-advance students who wish to develop their skills and grow their confidence on the snow. Clinic and Trials camp is designed to provide an opportunity to progress skills and experience a race course. We aim to further develop the students' abilities in the context of racing and this in turn determines out students' suitability for their chosen events at Interschools.
Yarra Snowsports is a parent group that supports the Yarra Valley Grammar Snowsports program. We organise social events and industry nights throughout the year. On the mountain, parents have traditionally been an invaluable asset supporting Team Yarra and volunteering as marshals during the Interschool competition.
All students and parents are welcome – see you on the mountain!
Contact: snowsports@yvg.vic.edu.au
Join our Social Groups
The Hearing Unit at Yarra Valley Grammar has a long history of providing outstanding education and support for students who are hearing impaired. Hearing impaired students at Yarra are assisted with hearing aids and or cochlear implants and are fully integrated into the classroom by qualified teachers of the deaf.
The Yarra Hearing Unit parent group also offers a support network for families of hearing impaired children. The Hearing Unit Parent Information evenings are held throughout the year, providing a wonderful opportunity to meet and socialise with other parents. These evenings are also very informative as parents are kept up to date with the latest technologies available to support children with a hearing loss.
The group also organises social events to benefit both the parents and students of the Hearing Unit. It builds a vital support network for all involved in the Hearing Unit and assists families to successfully integrate with the whole School community.
The Yarra Hearing Unit parent group welcomes input and participation from all parents, students and teaching staff of the Hearing Unit and the wider School community.
Contact: Rachel Wilson
hearingunit@yvg.vic.edu.au
Yarra Equestrian provides the opportunity for students actively riding and competing with their horses to represent the School and to enjoy the support and encouragement of other team members. Yarra Equestrian encourages students to compete at as many interschool competitions as possible; whether in School hours, over weekends or school holidays.
Throughout the year Yarra Equestrian organises clinics, giving students access to high level tuition at a group level. This may be in the discipline of show jumping, dressage or cross-country. Many riders compete at different levels at Pony Club and Equestrian Australia (EA) competitions but being part of the School team offers the opportunity for riders of all ages and abilities to come together and show Yarra Spirit out in the highly competitive interschool arena.
Yarra Equestrian has team members from the younger years in Junior Primary right through to senior levels. As riders progress through to Middle and Senior School they have the opportunity to be recognised for their commitment to the sport through awards and School colours.
Competitions on the interschool arena are largely co-ordinated by the Victorian Equestrian Interschool Series (VEIS). Their website has important information about competing including rules, calendars and entry details as well as outlining series, qualifying events and grand finals. Throughout the year different schools host competitions from show jumping (ISJ), dressage (ISD), combined training, eventing and showing. Each year there is a major event hosted by the VEIS at Werribee called the Interschool Championships which sees riders from all disciplines come together over the course of a week; this is the qualifying event for national competitions.
Yarra Equestrian is continuing to grow, develop and support our riders and we have a strong focus on team spirit and positive involvement from both riders and parents.
Contact: Felicity Kearton and Melissa Shacklock
The Yarra Prayer Group meets weekly in the School Chapel to pray for our School, the Board, leadership, staff, students, programs and the wider School community. We gather for a cuppa and a chat before our time of prayer. All members of the past and current School community are welcome to join us with no obligation to lead us in prayer. Prayer needs can be sent, confidentially, to the Group via our School Chaplain using the email below.
Chaplain: Paul Joy
prayergroup@yvg.vic.edu.au
Yarra Valley Grammar is renowned for its incredible dramatic performances. From award winning large scale musicals filled with spectacle, to our intimate and perfected plays, our productions allow the students with the opportunity to bring their talents to the stage.
This would not be possible if it were not for the wonderful Yarra Drama team who support and collaborate with the Performing Arts department to bring excellence to every performance. The Yarra Drama team create dazzling foyer experiences, memorable merchandise and run the kiosk during show week. They also assist the production team with sourcing and designing costumes and props. Not only does the Yarra Drama team support the productions themselves but provides treasured experiences for the students such as supplying cast t-shirts and meals during show times.
We are always looking to expand the parent group and welcome new members to offer their skills.
Contact: John Luan
Please email drama@yvg.vic.edu.au to register your interest.
