The Anchor

Secondary School

From the Head of Secondary 

I enjoyed the energy around the Secondary School this week, following the closed weekend.  Staff and students had tales to tell from jam-packed weekends away on one end of the spectrum, to quiet weekends doing nothing at the other end.  A change in routine, albeit for just one day, can be a refreshing break and an opportunity to reset for the second half of term and I look forward to a productive few weeks in the lead-up to Easter.

 

Year Eight students set off to Camp Quaranup on Tuesday for the week. Year Twelve student leaders and I will visit on Thursday evening to hear about their adventures and lead a reflection session.

 

Year Twelve leaders also organised a cake stall for International Women’s Day on Wednesday this week and made some purple ribbons to sell alongside the tasty treats.  The leaders were keen to support the day by raising funds for the local Women’s Refuge.

Years Seven and Year Nine students are busy preparing for NAPLAN and impressed me during the practice session this week by remembering to have fully charged laptops and functioning earphones. We have a further practice session planned for Monday , please remind your child to bring charged laptops and earphones.

 

I have met with Year Twelve leaders, Year Nine leaders and the Student Council this week.  One of the main features of each agenda was discussion around how we might involve today’s students in the celebration of GSG’s 25th birthday.  All groups shared their ideas enthusiastically and I look forward to some of our students’ creative thinking coming to life over the year.

Peer Support

I asked Xanthe to tell me about the first session with Year Seven students this morning:

Once a week on Wednesday mornings a group of Year Elevens has begun Peer Support with the Year Seven students. We visited the Year Seven Homerooms and spent time getting to know them. 

 

My group began by saying our name and answering the question, “If you didn’t have to be at school today and could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do there?” We then spent some time having other smaller conversations about hobbies and school. I had a fun time listening to interesting stories about sport and travel and look forward to future homerooms spent getting to know the Mokare Year Sevens.

Year Twelve News

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) has released the 2023 Year Twelve Handbook Part I which is relevant to all Year Twelve students.  Please access it through this link: School Curriculum and Standards Authority | Year 12 Information Handbook (scsa.wa.edu.au)

Elevate

We’re excited to announce that Elevate Education's next free webinar will be taking place on Wednesday 15 March, focusing on 'Technology & Focus'.Elevate Education works with our students, delivering high-impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. 

 

By tuning into their webinar series you will learn how you can help better support your children at home through reinforcing the skills they learn at school.

 

Wednesday 15 March at 6.30pm (AEDT) Using Technology and Beating Distractions

 

Click here to register for free

 

Here's what Elevate will be covering on the night:

✅Technology addiction and how to reduce technology dependence 

✅Practical strategies and apps to minimise procrastination 

✅How to help your child use technology productively to enhance their learning 

 

Mrs Victoria Turnor | Head of Secondary

From the Year Twelve Leaders

Alongside our own celebration of International Women’s Day, the Albany Chamber of Commerce & Industry put on a conference for any woman to attend. Maddie Byrne and I were lucky enough to be in attendance and got to hear from some amazing keynote speakers about their experiences as a woman building their own businesses or how to develop their own businesses. 

 

Aside from the keynote speakers we were also able to meet a variety of people from the Great Southern and surrounds and were lucky enough to learn all about their jobs and inspirations. 

 

Stella Boyce | School Captain

Cert IV Business class 

One of the Year Twelve Certificate IV Business classes went on an excursion to the University Hub in Albany. This was to complete a ‘Networking’ unit that the students had. The University Hub is run in the old Cooperative Society building on Frederick Street. The Hub is for any online University student to study in. Students have free access to top-speed internet and computers, free paper and printing, study skills advice, kitchen use and 24-hour use of the building. 

 

The Hub is working hard to bring more University courses online for the Albany students to enrol in. They are currently working with Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts to offer an online course for students in Albany, with a lecturer flying down for a day each week. 

 

Here is some more of what the students found out: 

  • Georgia: They are working on making a Hub in Katanning and Mount Barker.  
  • Blake: I really enjoyed this experience and learned that it is free for Uni students. 
  • Lucas: There are 200 people registered at the Albany Hub. 
  • Bree: There is a place to go if I choose to study at Uni. It is very supportive and welcoming to everyone. 

Thanks to Mr Mike Eastman for showing us around and telling us all about it. 

 

Mrs Naomi Cooper | Chaplain