As a Year 7 student navigating her first year of secondary school, Zoe’s days at SCG are full of opportunities to grow, learn, and discover new things. Whether painting in our art studio, cooking delicious meals in our state-of-the-art commercial kitchen in the Centauri Centre, or connecting with her peers and teachers, Zoe is embracing every opportunity.
“There are many opportunities at SCG to grow and learn as a person.”
The Early Years
Zoe joined SCG in 2019 as a Foundation student and has blossomed into a confident, ambitious, and driven student eager to make a difference.
Zoe’s parents, Viki and Peter, chose SCG for their family because they wanted a school that would not only provide a strong academic foundation, but one that would also nurture Zoe’s character, confidence, and values.
“From our very first interactions with the school, we felt a genuine sense of community and care,” Viki and Peter said. “We wanted Zoe to be in an environment where she would be known, supported, and encouraged to reach her full potential. SCG offered exactly that.”
“All my teachers have helped me soar by believing in me, by always making me try my best, and pushing me to being the best version of myself.”
Stepping into Leadership
Zoe is a leader in her own right having led her peers as a Class Representative three times during primary school and becoming a Design and Art Leader in Year 6. In 2025, she brought the entire Primary School together to partake in Jump Rope for Heart, to support families affected by heart disease and raise funds for lifesaving research. Together with her peers, she raised $5,215 for the cause.
When reflecting on her leadership roles in the Primary School she said, “I wanted to become that leader and that role model that everyone looks up to and says, ‘I want to be like that when I’m older’.”
Zoe’s journey into leadership was inspired by her Year 3 teacher, Ms Saunders, who saw the spark in her and encouraged her to apply for the Class Representative role. “Ms Saunders said I’d make a great leader so I went for it and I got it,” Zoe said. “She made me feel that I could be that leader that the class could always look up to.”
Becoming a Heart Hero
The Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser was especially meaningful for Zoe and her family, as her father suffered a heart attack in 2021.
With the support of her Year 5 teacher, Ms Simone Wood, Head of Primary, Mr Paul Stanisicia, and her friends, Zoe organised a Jump Off Day on campus and galvanised her entire Primary School cohort in becoming Heart Heroes and joining thousands of students across the country who have, over the years, collectively raised $115 million to save countless lives.
“It felt really good to bring everyone together to raise money for the Heart Foundation,” Zoe said. “I knew that if I could try and help by raising money and getting people to participate, it would all go to a good cause.”
Simone described her experience working with Zoe as an “absolute pleasure”, saying, “What impressed me most was Zoe’s willingness to take initiative and lead with confidence while remaining open to collaboration and support. Her dedication inspired those around her, making it easy to get behind her vision and help bring it to life within our primary school community.”
“SCG has enabled Zoe to soar by creating an environment where she feels supported, valued, and encouraged to take on new challenges. The school has helped her build resilience, confidence, leadership skills, and a genuine love of learning.” – Viki and Peter (Zoe’s parents)
Zoe’s efforts were recognised by Jump Rope for Heart. She was awarded a Top 5 Student Fundraiser Award and presented with a plaque to acknowledge her achievement.
Viki and Peter said, “Watching [Zoe] take the initiative, encourage her peers to get involved, and work so hard towards her fundraising goal made us incredibly proud. It wasn’t just about the amount she raised, it was about seeing her compassion, determination, and desire to give back to a cause that had personally impacted our family.
“We are proud of the way she leads—with kindness, empathy, and a genuine desire to help others.”
Zoe’s legacy lives on in the Primary School, with younger students taking the mantle in leading fundraising initiatives to make a difference. This is something that has made Zoe exceptionally proud. She said, “Seeing younger students raising money for fundraisers makes me proud because they’re stepping into older kids’ shoes in wanting to be like us.”
Step Inside Our Community – Book a School Tour
Behind every story is a community that believes in each student and walks alongside them.
We invite you to visit SCG, meet our community, explore our learning environments, and experience the relationships and opportunities that enables every child to soar.
