Whole School News
Arts - Shaun Tan Award
We are delighted that Year Eleven Visual Arts student, Charlotte Stephens, has been shortlisted for the Years Eleven/Twelve Category in the Shaun Tan Art Prize held each year at Subiaco Library. This is a very competitive competition and a great achievement to get this far. Charlotte’s collaged artwork ‘Metro’ is about the busy, chaotic nature of Europe’s metro stations, inspired by her own experiences in Germany.
Congratulations, Charlotte!
Ms Rachel Mordy | Head of the Arts / Teacher
The Literature Centre Young Writers
Young Writers is a group that meets up once a term, in the Albany City Library, to meet WA authors; this is run by The Literature Centre. It is so much fun playing character games, making up scenes and acting out skits. Many young writers from all over Albany come together and meet new authors. The authors that have come so far are Kathryn Lefroy (author of Secret of the Stone and Alex and the Alpacas save the World) and our most recent one Shane McCarthy (a published comic book writer for DC comics).
I really enjoyed listening to the authors talk about how they became writers and how to write better stories. The activities are amazing and super enjoyable; it’s a great way to meet new people, meet authors and have some fun! I highly recommend this to anyone who loves books and/or writing!
Saffron Tapscott | Year Seven student
Barmup – Strawberry Hill Excursion
On Monday 26 May, our Indigenous students had the privilege of attending a special excursion to Barmup – Strawberry Hill, a culturally significant site to Nyungar and Menang people.
Barmup, which means "place of tall trees" in the Menang language, is where the first farm in Western Australia was established, known today as Old Farm, Strawberry Hill. We learnt that Barmup is a sacred place where Elders and their ancestors lived before, during and after the establishment of the farm.
Our school was honoured to receive an invitation from the Wagyl Kaip Aboriginal Corporation to be guided by local Elders, Aunty Carol, Uncle Lester and Aunty Marie.
Students were taken on a walking tour of the grounds surrounding the heritage buildings. Along the way, they discovered how the land provided abundant water, shelter, food and medicine, offering a powerful glimpse into how Menang people lived in harmony with the land.
We were fortunate to meet members of the National Trust, archaeologists from Archae Aus, and cultural expert Larry Blight. They shared exciting news about the Trust’s conservation work at Barmup, where hundreds of artefacts are being uncovered to help piece together the stories of the past. Students even had the chance to sift through sand and make some special finds, an original iron nail and fragments of old corrugated roofing. We also witnessed the unveiling of the original stable floor, which was a highlight of the day.
Uncle Lester then led us on a walk a few blocks away from the heritage site, where he and Larry showed us ancient impressions in the ground. These marks are believed to be ancestral walking tracks that form part of the Songlines, traditional paths that map the South-West region, connecting places like Denmark, Esperance and beyond.
We are grateful for the stories shared and the knowledge passed down to understand the significance of Barmup and what it means to look after Country. A heartfelt thank you to Narelle Miniter from Wagyl Kaip, our Elders, Aunty Carol, Uncle Lester, Aunty Marie and to Larry Blight. We hope we have made you proud and we look forward to encouraging more of our school community to visit Barmup and continue learning.
Thank you also to the National Trust and Archae Aus for giving us the chance to be part of this important moment in Barmup’s history.
For those wanting to learn more, there’s a fantastic write-up by ABC Great Southern that adds even more to our story.
Miss Madi van der List | Indigenous Student Support Officer / Relief Teacher
From the School Counsellor
This week, there are two links for a conference and a webinar that offer common-sense, well-researched and accessible information for parents. Both of these offerings feature Michelle Mitchell and Steve Biddulph.
There is also a fact sheet for Anxiety – which is the fastest growing mental disorder in adolescence, as well as some research about the difference between body positivity and body neutrality, well worth the read, especially with the knowledge that 300,000 adolescents have an Eating Disorder, one third of which identify as male. This does not include the astonishing number of young people who practice disordered eating.
Resilient Kids Conference – Perth
“Since 2016, our live events have attracted up to 800 attendees at a single event, so the vibe is marvellous. It is beyond beautiful to see parents, educators, and many other professionals stream through the doors in anticipation of a soul fulfilling experience.”
Date: Sat 19 July 2025
Time: 9.30am – 3.30pm
Location: Mount Pleasant College, 497 Marmion St, Booragoon WA
In Person: $125.00 per ticket Group Rate (5+): $109.00 per ticket
Book: Resilient Kids Conference - PERTH 2025 | Michelle Mitchell
Building Boys: to be loving, happy and strong. | Michelle Mitchell
Webinar Title: Building Boys to be loving, happy and strong
When: Wednesday 23 July
Time: 7.00pm to 8.20pm AEST
Cost: $35.00
Access: It is yours to watch and view as many times as you want for 6 months from the date of purchase.
Book: Building Boys: to be loving, happy and strong. | Michelle Mitchell
WHAT IS THIS WEBINAR ABOUT?
Steve Biddulph has been thinking and teaching about boys and men’s development for more than fifty years. His books including Raising Boys and Manhood, have made him the top-selling parenting author in the world this century. We are very worried about boys and men lately, but this is nothing new. And we have the answers to the most every day, and the most grave, concerns all parents have deep down.
In his warm, startlingly honest, and insightful way, Steve does not just teach, he wakens up your own good sense, the part of you that knows what is the way you want to go. So, the power stays with you, and your own family’s unique situation.
In this webinar, Michelle Mitchell and Steve Biddulph join forces to bring you the answers to pressing questions about our boys examples of which are below:
- Why boys are so at risk – even in the womb!
- Understanding their unique timetable of development, so you are on track at every age.
- The three big stages of boyhood – and the one we nearly always miss.
- Teaching about respecting girls and respecting themselves.
- Teaching him emotional intelligence – and to know his own insides.
- Role models – what they are, and what they are not, and how to find them.
- Dads and the father-wound – why dads have often struggled, and how they are healed.
- What to do if you are a single mum.
Two links about Anxiety, which is on the rise in young people.
How Anxiety Affects Teenagers - Child Mind Institute
03-Anxiety-headspace-fact-sheet-WEB.pdf
Body Neutrality – the Healthier Stance
Body Positivity vs. Body Neutrality Body neutrality takes a step away from the more extreme ideas promoted by the body positivity movement. As the name suggests, it teaches that a person does not have to love their body unconditionally, nor do they need to think about it positively or negatively in any sense.
Rather, the body neutrality movement focuses on appreciating what the body is capable of doing. The concept centres more on promoting respect than encouraging love.
The other aspect of this idea is taking the focus away from physical appearance at all. Body neutrality would have followers be grateful for how their body helps them live their life and interact with the world — how their body allows them to dance or hug another human, go for a hike, feel the warmth of the sun, or even climb the stairs to bed every night.
Support for Eating Disorders and Body Image Issues | Butterfly Foundation
Final Note – an impassioned speech from a Harvard Graduate. Heart surging and wise.
Yurong "Luanna" Jiang Delivers the Graduate English Address | Harvard Commencement 2025
I welcome any inquiries or requests to chat.
Ms Sheryl Moncur | School Counsellor / Teacher
Wilson Day
P&F
Last Wednesday, we held our Term Two P&F meeting. The discussion at this meeting predominantly centred around the grants we have given to the school based upon business cases that were presented to us.
We are pleased to announce that the following requests were successful in obtaining funding. We thank all those who submitted applications. Unfortunately, we were unable to fund all of them. The good news is that the school is picking up some of the funding for these, and that’s a win!
We have committed $25,000 across the following three projects.
- The first stage of the pump track near the boarding grounds. This will give the Borders something to use outside of school hours, with the additional benefit that it can be used for outdoor education classes.
- Purchase more outdoor seating for students at lunch and recess. There is high demand for the existing furniture; these additional seats will make lunch and recess a bit more comfortable for our students.
- A library upgrade, with the assistance of the school upgrade, includes shelving in the library to make books more accessible to students.
There is a fourth project, a small request from the Indigenous Support Service Officers that we are considering. We have asked for some further information and we will report on this in due course.
It is great to be able to invest in our school community to enhance the lives of our students and we thank the school administration team for providing us with these opportunities.
With the assistance of the Marketing team, we have developed a logo for the P&F that you will see at our future events. It’s important that we can apply a brand to all that we do. Please see this below.
Mr Jason Pages | P&F Coordinator
Canteen
Week Eight, Term Two
No Specials this week. Please explore the wide range of Recess and Lunch options available to you on the Flexischools menu.
Muffins and croissants
Delicious fresh salads and sandwiches
Toasted sandwiches
BLTs, sweet chilli wraps and toasted Turkish rolls
Pies, sausage rolls, Mac cheese and lasagne...
Specials Winter Menu for Term Two
Monday
- Toasted Turkish Roll - Chicken, Cheese, Spinach and Avocado
Tuesday
- Toasted Turkish Roll - Chicken, Cheese, Spinach and Avocado
- Nachos
- Nachos Deluxe
Wednesday
- Butter Chicken - served with Rice and Naan Bread
- Toasted Turkish Roll - Chicken, Cheese, Spinach and Avocado
Thursday
- Pizza -Hawaiian/Vegetarian (GF Option available)
- Toasted Turkish Roll - Chicken, Cheese, Spinach and Avocado
Friday
- Spaghetti Bolognaise - Served with Garlic Bread
Uniform Shop
Term Two opening hours
- Monday: 8.00am to 4.00pm
- Tuesday: CLOSED
- Wednesday: 8.00am to 4.00pm
- Thursday: CLOSED
- Friday: 8.00am to 1.00pm
The City of Albany’s Live @ the Town Hall
The City of Albany’s Live @ the Town Hall returns for a special All Ages edition on Saturday 5 July 2025, bringing an evening of original WA music to the Albany Town Hall stage!
The City of Albany are excited to announce their headlining act: Noah Dillon and our opening act: Freak Maestro!
The rest of the lineup will be revealed over the coming weeks, so stay tuned and keep an eye on the City of Albany channels.
Find out more and book your tickets: https://bit.ly/3FdIPsr
Albany Town Hall, Saturday 5 July 2025. This is an all-ages alcohol-free event.
*Age 13 and under MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
This all-ages edition of Live @ the Town Hall is presented by the City of Albany and supported by Rio Tinto.
At Great Southern Grammar, we work in partnership with Yalari, proudly offering scholarships to Indigenous students.
Yalari is currently looking for a dedicated and organised Student Support Officer to join their Albany team, providing essential support to Indigenous children on Yalari scholarships at GSG.
To find out more or to apply, visit https://gsg.to/Yalari